MOTORING FATALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21161, 19 April 1932, Page 11

MOTORING FATALITY.

COLLISION WITH POLE. SWERVING COURSE OF CAR. DRIVER UNABLE TO EXPLAIN. An inquest was held before Mr. F. EL Levien, S.M., coroner, at Otahuhu yes-, terday concerning the death of May .W atkin, aged 15, who was fatally injured at Otahuhu on March 6 when the motorcar in which she was travelling collided with an electric power pole. The father of the girl, Alfred E. [Watkin, farmer, of Takanini, said he was sitting in the front seat of the car, which was driven by his son, Harold Watkin. Witness was dozing at the time and did not know what happened. He was thrown against the windscreen by the impact and was partially stunned. His daughter was seated on tho dickey seat just behind the front seat. Another passenger in the car, Samuel Brown, said the speed of the car was about 15 miles an hour, and it was travelling on the correct side of the road It He did not know how the accident curred.

Course Before Collision. Arthur Thompson, a farmer, of Karaka, said he was riding a motor-cvcl©, with his wife on the pillion seat, from Auckland through Otahuhu on the afternoon in question. "Just after leaving the Westfield overhead bridge I commenced to follow a motor-car," continued witness. "My speed was about 25 miles an hour and I intended to pass the car, which was travelling slower than I was. I noticed that tho car was swerving from side to side and was sometimes on the wrong side for some chains." On account of this, witness said, he decided not to attempt to pass the car, as he considered it would be dangerous. "1 followed the car to Otahuhu and when about opposite the Masonic Buildings the car swerved gradually to the extreme left, side of the road, the left front wheel struck the kerb, mounted the footpath., turned sharply to the right and struck an electric power pole," continued wit-

ness. Just prior to swerving to the left tho car had been on the wrong side of tho centre line of the concrete for a distance of abouli two chains. Witness was abouii two chains behind the car when the collision occurred. The only other traffic on the road at the time was a man riding a horse in the same direction as the car was travelling and about one chain ahead. Witness saw nothing to cause the driver to swerve on to the footpath. Another Witness of Accident. The licensee of the Star Hotel, Alfred George Pillinger, said he was standing on the road on the opposite side from his front entrance when he saw the car approaching. When level with the northern end of the Masonic Hall the car mounted the footpath and travelled about 15yds. before striking the power pole. Witness said he did not see any dog on the road at the time. The driver of the car, Harold Edward Watkin, said he was driving his father's car from Titirangi, where the family had attended a picnic, to his home at Taka- | nini. He remembered leaving the Harp | o' Erin corner, Ellerslie, but did not re-

member anything more until the car struck the pole. Ho had a faint recollection of a dog being on the roadway at the time of the collision, but could not say where. He had no clear recollection of the happenings prior to the car striking the pole and could not say what « caused the car to swerve. Constable W. Nield said he found the car jammed head on to the power pole. The driver was examined by two doctors and both were satisfied he was not intoxicated. Witness had found the brakes of the car in good order. The road was dry and visibility was good at the time. The coroner returned a verdict that death was due to injuries received through a motor colliding with a power pole.