ROAD RACE ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19743, 16 September 1927, Page 13

ROAD RACE ACCIDENT.

WOMAN DIES FROM INJURIES.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WANGANUI. Thursday. The inquest concerning the death of Mrs. Ellen Jorgenson, who was knocked down recently at Aratnoho by a cyclist taking part in a road race, and so seriously injured that she died in hospital, was resumed to-day. Alfred Walpole, builder, said deceased was walking with him and his wife on the riverbank road, near their home. A bunch of racing cyclist's passed them and witness was not aware that others were following. They had proceeded only a few yards further when deceased was knocked over. There were four or five cyclists in that bunch and about two fell. Dr. Wall said that deceased had fractured a bone of the skull and septic meningitis arose from this. Allan Norman Snow, engineer, who was one of the competitors in the road race, said he was riding with four other competitors, of whom Barnes was one. Witness was riding immediately behind Barnes on the left side of the road. The speed was between 15 and 20 miles an hour. There were three riders in a bunch ahead of Barnes. The latter struck an object and he and witness fell. Witness did not see the pedestrian on the road, as he was watching the back wheel of Barnes' cycle. Laurence E. Smith, secretary of the cycling club, said each rider was given to understand that he rode at his own risk and the onus was on him to preserve his own safety and the safety of others. The coroner returned a verdict that death wa.s due to septic meningitis, arising through injuries received when accidentally knocked down by a racing cvclist.