KILLED IN COLLISION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19235, 26 January 1926, Page 12

KILLED IN COLLISION.

CHRISTMAS DAY FATALITY. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. ONE DRIVER UNLICENSED. An inquest into the circumstances of the death of Mr. Finlay Charles Joseph I.eafkart, who wns killed in a collision between two motor-cars at the intersec thus of 11 an raid Street and Harbour View loo,id, Birkenhead, on Christmas Day, was held yesterday before Mr. F, K Hunt, P.M., coroner. Mr, A. Moody appeared for the relatives of deceased. Mr. imler for William Osboni Thompson, one of the drivers, and .Mr. Pimay for Fred. I.ees, the other driver. William Osborn Thompson, farmer, said he left Birkenhead for Highbury at ilkout one o'clock on the afternoon ot Christmas Day. He was driving..along Jiauraki Ptreet and had arrived at th.e junction of Hinenma Ptreet ami Harbour iViev.* Bond when lie saw a car approaching in the direction of Birkenhead. In witness' opinion the vehicle was travelling at more than £5 miles an hour. (Witness was travelling about lis mile.-, i->) hour, but slowed down in view of the speed ot tne other car. \\ lien he. applied his brakes witness' car si-.iaded to the intersection, and collided with tne vi her car. Witness thought the othei driver was ge.ng to keep on, as pniCiieidly no ti.itHc used Harbour A lew Bond a: that part. The impact turned witness' car completely round, winle the other shot past for about 30:1. and turned over almost m the centre oi the road. Fiid. Lees, compositor., said ho was driving his father's car along Ilauraki Street toward Harbour View Bond. He had no driver's license, but had driven on and off for a year. The Coroner: They ought, to prosecute you. Xo man should drive without a license. About 350 yards from the scene of the accident, he was driving at about 25 miles an hour; continued witness. Det eased and his sister were in iho front scat with him and there were three women and a child fn the back seat. On 'approaching the intersection witness founded his horn and put his hand straight out through the windscreen to show the other driver that lie intended to go into Harbour View Bead. He had slowed down to below 15 miles an hour on approaching th.e intersection. Witness said be left the metal as he could see the other car coming toward him, and ho thought the further away be got the less chance there was of a collision. He pointed out''Thompson's track across the grass to the constable immediately afterwards. lie considered lie had the right of way, as he was nearer the 'intersection than the other matt. If Thompson bad not cut across the grass there would have been no {i.e cm en I. The inquiry was adjourned until tomorrow.