MOTOR-BUS ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19496, 27 November 1926, Page 15

MOTOR-BUS ACCIDENT.

DEATH OF AN OLD MAN.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST,

A verdict of accidental death was returned yesterday by Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., coroner, at the inquest concerning the death of Daniel O'Keefe, aged 72, of 123, Carlton Gore Road, who died in the Auckland Hospital on November 12 as a result of being knocked down cm the previous evening by a motor-bus in Broadway. Newmarket. Dr. J. Mark said that when admitted to the hospital, deceased was conscious and could walk, He had a small scalp wound on the back of the head and bruises below both unees in front. About 5 o'clock next morning he began to lose consciousness. An X-ray examination revealed a fracture of the left side of the skull, and an operation disclosed a large blood clot beneath the fracture. Death occurred at 12.40 p.m. from fracture Oi the skull and hemorrhage into the brain. Lewis Henry McMullen, driver of the motor-bus, said he was driving along Broadway toward the city. Just before turning into Khvber Pass he saw a wan coming straight toward the front of the bus. The man was about 14ft. away and witness was travelling at not more than 10 miles an hour. witness applied the brakes and the bus skidded straight forward. The man appeared to throw up his arms and fall against the front bumper of the bus. i , Witness said that on getting out ot the bus he found deceased lying on the roadwav with one arm over the bumper, his feet being caught in the front axle. taken into a hotel deceased said he felt quite ail right and wanted to go home. At the time of the accident a fine ram was falling and the road was slippery. Evidence was given bv other witnesses that deceased could easily have avoided the bus, and that the driver did everything possible to avert an accident.