FATAL COLLISION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20555, 5 May 1930, Page 12

FATAL COLLISION.

MOTOR-CYCLIST'S DEATH,

EVIDENCE BY CAR DRIVER.

INQUEST AT WANGANUI.

[nr TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] "WANGANUI, Sunday.

An inquest was. opened yesterday concerning the death of Archibald Bell Melville, a, motor-cyclist who was killed on No. 1 line on April 10 as a result of a collision with a motor-car.

Dr. J. W. Anderson, who was called to the scene, said he found that Melville was dead. Constable Nairn arrived and took some rough measurements. The impression of witness from the position of the vehicle was that deceased was on his wrong sido. Afterwards ho saw a plan prepared by the constable, and he agreed with that plan so far as it affected the position of the vehicles. It seemed obvious to witness, from tho position of tho vehicles, that deceased was on his wrong sido and that tho motor-car was travelling on tho correct sido and was bumped on to its wrong side by tho collision.

John Stewart, motor salesman, of Marton, said that on April 10 he was driving a car from Wanganui to Marlon. Before coming to the sceno of tho collision there was a sharp bond to the left. Ho took this bend on the extreme left. When ho turned ho saw deceased on the motorcycle approaching him. The cycle was on the wrong sido of the road and appealed to bo travelling very fast. The momentary impression witness got was that the cyclist would pass on his left. Witness judged that he would have sufficient room to do so. Almost immediately the impact occurred. The cycle struck the left sido of the car between the front left wheel and tho dumb iron. This slewed the car to the right. Uio right wheel of the car just touched tho gravel on the wrong side of tho road. Witness drove the car slowly across to the correct sido and stopped. As a result of tho impact the left wheel of the car and the axle were pressed backwards. The windscreen was also broken. Witness was travelling at about 27 miles an hour. Tho time between his seeing tho cyclist and the collision occurring appeared to pass in a flash. Witness made no attempt to change his position on the road. There was about 18in. of bitumen between his car and the left, and then loose metal.

To Mr. L. Cohen, who appeared for tho relatives of deceased, witness said he first saw tho cyclist about 100 yds. away. Asked why ho did not pull up, witness said it all happened so quickly. He had had 16 years' experience of driving in the city, and lie had seen people sometimes pass on the wrong side. Ho did not put on his brakes, as he considered it was unnecessary, for he assumed that tho cyclist would pass on the left. Witness said ho could not suggest anything ho could have dono to avoid the accident.

Tho inquiry was adjourned until Mon day.