FATAL MOTOR COLLISION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19455, 11 October 1926, Page 14

FATAL MOTOR COLLISION.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. STATEMENTS BY THE DRIVERS. [BY TELEGEAi'H. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] CHRISTCHUBCH. Saturday. Two motor-cars overturned in a collision at the intersection of Salisbury and Madras Streets on the afternoon of September 15 and Mrs. Catherine Quinn, aged 55 years, was killed. An inquest was held to-day before Mr. H. A. Young, S.M., coroner. Mrs. Quinn -was travelling in a car driven by her son. Mr. G. A. G. Conn a 1 appeared for the relatives of deceased and Mr. R. Twyneham for the driver of the other car. James Wilfred Quinn, aged 18 years, said he v.-as driving his father's car along Salisbury Street. At the intersection he noticed the other car going north. Just as he got over the intersection the other car hit his car, which turned over. His mother was thrown out and the witness and other occupants were underneath the overturned car. The other car swerved. Both cars were overturned. Witness thought that the other car was travelling too last. He did not know his own speed. His car was going slowly. To Mr. Twyneham witness said he went across first as he thought the other car Was well clear. Ruby Busch, of Amberley, a single woman, the driver of the second car, said her car was travelling at 12 miles an hour and Quinn's was going much faster. Quinn's car was so far back that she thought, she had the right of way. She thought she had ample time to pass. She applied her brakes when she noticed that the other car was coming on. Her car did not swerve, but the other one pulled to the left before the impact. The collision would not have occurred if Quinn's car had slowed down or pulled up. Witness had been driving for six or seven years. To Mr. Connal witness said the impacttook place on the intersection. She applied the hand brake, but could not say whether she had used the foot brake. Allan Wallace Robertson, who witnessed the accident, said that Miss Rusch steered to the left and struck Quinn's car on a rear wheel. Miss Busch's car was on tho middle of the road, travelling at about 15 miles an hour. Both cars Were doing that speed. Quinn's car did not alter its course. It was the impact which overturned Quinn's car. Witness did not hear any horn sounded. Miss Busch, he thought, had not put the brake on or had given the car more petrol. Quinn's car was on the intersection first. At this stage, with five more witnesses to be examined, the inquest was adjourned until next Saturday.