OBSTRUCTION OF VIEW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18890, 12 December 1924, Page 13

OBSTRUCTION OF VIEW.

PASSENGERS IN MOTOR-BUS.

PARNELL RISE FATALITY.

EVIDENCE OF THE DRIVER.

The death of Richard Rhodes Hariwtll, who died at the Auckland Hospital following his admission after having been knocked down by a motor-bus driven by Wilfred James Wheeler on Paruell Rise, on November 17, was the, subject of an inquest, held yesterday by Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M. Sergeant, Lambert appeared for the police and Mr. Glaister represented the relatives of deceased.

Wilfred James Wheeler, driver of the bus, stated he was driving up Fatnell Rise at about 5.15 p.m. on November 17. The speed of the vehicle, varied from 8 to 10 miles an hour. A passenger standing on witness' near side obstructed the view to tho left. Witness said to him: "Is all clear," and received an answer in the affirmative, he inclined the wheel to the left. Simultaneously ho heard a cry, and saw deceased struck by tho radiator and knocked down. Tho bus was stopped immediately and deceased was picked up at the rear of the vehicle. It had been raining and there were five or six passengers standing. Tho seating accommodation was for 19 passengers, and witness was licensed to carry this number.

In reply to the coroner witness said he understood the license indicated the seating capacity of the vehicle, and that he was entitled to carry additional standing passengers. James Budin, a passenger, said the bus was not doing more than 10 miles an hour when deceased was struck. He heard the bell sounded several times and the driver pulled up in a length. If he had stopped dead the. wheels may have passed over deceased's head. Mr. McKean: He could not see whore the man was lying, and by going on he may have hit him with the back wheel. Charles A. Jackson said Wheeler applied his brakes promptly. The speed was about seven miles an hour.

Louisa Ford, another passenger, deposed that she called out, when she saw an accident was imminent. Deceased appeared to step back inlo the path of the bus.

The coroner remarked upon Wheeler's interpretation of the terms of the license, and said he considered the total carrying capacity of the bus was 19 passengers. It was his duty as driver, to be able to see where he was going, and, if he relied upon the wort l of any person as to whether all \yas clear, then he must be held responsible," said Mr. McKean. A finding was returned that deceased died as a result of injuries received through being knocked down by an omnibus driven in a negligent manner. The inquest will be complied to-day by tho recording of medical i lence.