CYCLING FATALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20115, 28 November 1928, Page 14

CYCLING FATALITY.

DEATH OF THREE YOUTHS.

COLLISION AT MIDNIGHT. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. [ISV TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday. 'J'lio adjourned inquest was concluded to-day concerning tho death of Gilbert T. Williams, aged 19, of New Plymouth, and Atliol lidLerls, aged It, and Charles V. Johnson, aged 19, botli of Stratford, tho llireo motor-cyclists who wore killed iu a midnight accident at Tariki on November 15.

In returning a verdict (hat tho youths were accidentally killed as tho result of a collision between two motor-cycle? which they were riding tho coroner, Mr. W. L. Kennedy, expressed sympathy with the parents.

Hugh McCallum, manager of the Tariki Dairy Con.pany, said, accompanied by his wife, ho was driving liis car from Ingtewood to Tariki, Ho saw two motor-cycles lying on tho road. He investigated and found two young men lying beneath one cycle, apparently seriously hurt. On the other side of tho road tho other machine was lying, and a young man, later identified as Williams, was lying on tho grass, apparently dead, about three yards from (he machine.

Witness dragged the latter cycle off the road and then extricated the other two victims before ringing for tho doctor. Both machines were badly damaged in front, and a head-on collision was quite evident.

Evidence was given by Dr. David Steven, who received the message from McCallum. He described the scene of the accident and the injuries sustained by the threo deceased. The father of one deceased, Vincent Johnson, identified one of the machines involved as one owned by Harold Potts, of Eltham, who had come to his house with the cycle two days before the accidfllll. Ho said Polls lefl lliu cycle in witness' shed and returned to Eltham. Witness did not know who took it away or how it came to be in deceased's possession. Ho could only surmise they took the machine.

Allan C. Cressy, motor mechanic, said he toolc Williams to flawcra on the night of the, accident to show him a cycle with a view to sal(>. Williams decided to pur chase it and paid a deposit. He left Hawora about 9 p.m., riding the machine alone.

Constable Longboltorn said the taillight of Williams' cycle was still burning when he reached the scene, while there was nothing to show that the lamps o/ the other machine had been burning. The wiring was found subsequently to liavo fused.

:U the conclusion of the evidence BiM'» geant Rowell said: "No person actually saw tlie ac:ident. and we will never know the direct cause."