MOTORING FATALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20491, 17 February 1930, Page 12

MOTORING FATALITY.

CAR DRIVER'S ACCOUNT.

FAINTNESS DUE TO INJURY.

OPEN VERDICT RETURNED.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WHANGAREI, Sunday.

The adjourned inquest concerning the death of Lionel Major Hardy, who died as the result of a motor accident at Maungaturoto on December 14, was held at Whangarei before the coroner, Mr. G. N. Morris, S.M. The driver of the car, John Thomas Dodds, farmer, of Maungaturoto, said, that on the afternoon of December 14 he had been to the hall to prepare *for a lodge function. He had been in hospital with blood poisoning, and his arm was troubling him. It ached and gave him pain continuously, but had never caused him to faint until this occasion. He worked at the hall until about 3.30 p.m. A few minutes after 4 p.m. he called at tho hotel for Hardy. He had a drink of stout. They left tho hotel in the car and Hardy was with him in the front seat. Three other passengers were in the back. Witness saw them carry some beer into the car, but it belonged to' those in the back seat. He was sure that he himself had had only two drinks of stout that day, and he felt no ill-effects from it.

Witness said he drove at about 25 miles an hour until he approached a corner, when ho slowed down. He recollected the car rolling over and then he lost consciousness. He was admitted to tho Whangarei Public Hospital. He put the cause of the accident down to his arm making him faint. He was quite sober at the time. The others wero sober enough,' but had had more liquor than witness. There was very little conversation in tho car, and he was giving his best attention to the driving. The coroner said he did not think that liquor had played any part in the matter. Ho would give an open verdict, that deceased met his death from injuries to the head received through the overturning of a car at Maungaturoto.