MOTORING ACCIDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20174, 7 February 1929, Page 10

MOTORING ACCIDENTS.

CHILD KILLED BY LORRY.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST.

THE DRIVER EXONERATED.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] PUKEKOHE, Wednesday. A verdict of nccidental death, with no blame attachable to the driver of the motor-lorry, was returned by the coroner, Mr. C. K.. Lawrie, at the inquest to-day into tho death of Laurence Pomery, uged two years, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. Pomery, of Pukekohe, who was killed in tho main street at Pukokoho on December 7, through being struck by a benzine lorry driven by H. H. Charlosworth, of Pukekohe.

Percy L. Barker, an eye-witness of llio accident, said ho saw tho child leave three women standing outsido a drapery shop on tho south side of tho ctreot and step on to the road. Tho child continued along parallol to the kerb for some yards and then made across the road toward a baker's shop. The lorry, which was travelling at not more than eight or ten miles an hour, was overtaking tho child, but slowed up almost to a stop. Tho child stopped, too, and the lorry continued, but the child suddenly ran ahead in front of tho lorry and was struck. Tho child's sudden action caused a crisis which the lorry driver had no chance of avoiding and made tho accident inevitable.

Tho driver of tho lorry said ho noticed tho child first when about 40 to 45 feet away. Ho applied both brakes and swerved slightly to the left. Tho child then stopped, so he continued, but when about three feet away tho child ran on right in front of tho lorry. Ho again applied his brakes, but realised the position was hopeloss. He pulled in to the kerbside, stopped, and went back to tho scone of tho accidont. Othor evidenco was to the effect that death must have been instantaneous.

MAN FOUND UNCONSCIOUS.

LYING BY CAPSIZED LORRY.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WHANG AREI, Wednesday. Mr. Frank King, aged 23, a single man, was picked up in an unconscious condition at four o'clock this morning on tho roadside between Towai and the metal quarry. His lorry was overturned beside him.

The injured man was taken to the Kawakawa Hospital, where he regained consciousness soon after admission. An examination by the medical superintendent showed that King was suffering from slight concussion, but his condition is i.ot regarded as serious.

DEATH OF YOUNG MAN

COLLISION WITH TAXICAR

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] INVERCARCILL, Wednesday.

The death occurred in hospital last evening of Mr. Edward Williams, a young man whose skull was fractured in a collision between a motor-cycle and a taxicar.

TATE OF YOUNG WOMAN.

CYCLE STRUCK BY CAR

[BV TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday.

At an inquest into the death of Laura Spratt, aged 20, who was killed on January 18 by being knocked d6wn by a service car on the Hutt Road, the coroner, Mr. E. Page, S.M., returned a verdict of accidentally killed, no blamo being attachable to tho driver of tho car. Deceased was riding with her brother on the cross-bar of a bicycle, and the coroner considered the latter could not have been keeping a proper look-out. ,