MOTORIST DROWNED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 14

MOTORIST DROWNED.

ACCIDENT NEAR OTAHUHU.

CAR STRIKES BRIDGE PARAPET.

VERDICT AT THE INQUEST.

A verdict of accidental drowning was returned by the coroner, Mr. F. H. Lovien, S.M., at the 'inquest held at Otahuhu yesterday into the death of Mr. Alexender Duthie, whose body was found in the Tamaki River at Otahuhu after his motor-car was discovered hanging over the parapet of the bridgo on the Great South Road at Otahuhu on May 20. Sergeant Howell appeared for the police, Mr. Holmden represented the relatives of deceased, while Mr. R. P. Towle appeared for deceased's brother, Mr. R. T. Duthie. Mr. Butler was present on behalf of an insurance company.

An employee of deceased, Annie Evaline Smith, stated that Mr. Duthie left Waiuku on the evening of May 20 to meet tho limited express from Wellington at Auckland. He was in normal health and had ample time to meet the train. Peter Vivian Flexman, a carrier, of Waiuku, stated that on the evening of tho accident ho was driving from Auckland about 11.20 p.m. when ho saw deceased's car on the parapet of the bridge. Tho car was empty, but by the light of a torch ho saw a coat floating in the water below. The ignition switch of the car was off, while tho left-front wheel wa3 resting on the iron rail of tho bridge. The left-front door was open, and tho lights were turned off. The gears were in neutral.

Another witness stated that the lights wero off, while the door overhanging the water was open. A caddy at the Auckland Golf Club's links at Middlemore, Harvey Bell, stated that on May 22 he saw a man's boots in the mangroves near the course and on further investigation found deceased's body.

Sergeant Rowell stated that tho body was identified by a bank-book which was found. At tho time of the accident the tide was running in, and as soon as the accident was reported a search was instituted. Tho body was recovered two days later half a mile upstream from the bridge, lying in two feet of water. In deceased's pocket was a watch which had stopped at 11.11 o'clock.

In conclusion the sergeant said that in his opinion the car was travelling at a slow pace, or it would have plunged in the river.

Dr. W. Gilmour, pathologist at the Auckland Hospital, stated that death was due to drowning. Deceased was in a perfectly normal condition and there were no signs of liquor. The coroner then returned his finding.