SCHOOLBOY'S DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20465, 17 January 1930, Page 12

SCHOOLBOY'S DEATH.

STRUCK BY SERVICE CAR.

RACEHORSES ON FOOTPATH.

WARNING BY THE CORONER. An inquest into the death of John McNiccc, aged five years, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. McNiocc, of 15, Matai Road, Cireon Lane, who died in llie Auckland Hospital as the result of being knocked down by a service car in Croat South Road on October 18, was held yesterday before Mr; I<\ K. Hunt, S.M., coroner. A verdict was returned that death was due to shock following injuries caused by being accidentally knocked down by p. service car. Mr. Singer appeared for tho child's parents, and Mr, Hunt for the driver of the service car.

Deceased's sister, aged eight, said that she was going to school with her brother about 8.45 on the morning of October 18, and they were a short distance down Great. South Road past Panmurc Road when they saw some horses being ridden on tho footpath toward them. Her brother became frightened of the horses and wanted to go to the other side of the road. She would not allow him to do so, but-shortly afterwards he did. Just >rs he left the footpath she saw a. car approaching from behind, just a few yards away. The car swerved to the right and her * brother was knocked down. She thought that her brother stumbled, otherwise he would have crossed safely. Car Stops Within Length.

Constable Rielly, of Ellerslie, said that from the marks on the road the car came to a stop within a length from the time that it swerved. From inquiries he had made it appeared that everything possible had been done by the driver to avoid an accident.

In reply to Mr. Singer, who suggested that it was a practice of jockeys to ride on the footpath at this place, Conslablo Rielly said ho believed thai that was so. He had prosecuted on several occasions. The Coroner: Well, I shall put the fines up if I get any more. I did not realise that this might happen. William John Duggan, stable-boy, said that about 8.45 on the morning of October 18 he was riding a racehorse on the grass on the footpath approaching the corner of Panmure Road and Great South Road, and was about 200 yds. away when he saw a car approaching and the deceased start to cross the road. There was another horse some distance behind him

Maximum Fine in Future. The Magistrate: It will cost anyone £5 for that next time he appears before me. Unfortunately £5 is the limit. It did not enter into my mind that this might occur. I thought only of tho damage to tho footpath and the inconvenience to pedestrians. Desmond iSkelton, driver of the service car, said that ho was about 150 yds. to 200 yds. from the junction when he saw the* two children on the footpath, The boy suddenly ran out in front of the car. He applied the brakes immediately, but could not avoid striking the bo&-. Ho had been driving for six years, and had never hat! an accident previously. Evidence was given by Dr. L. G. Cooke that death resulted from shock following a compound fracture of the right thigh and a fracture of the pelvis.