STRUCK BY TRAMCAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21326, 29 October 1932, Page 11

STRUCK BY TRAMCAR

BLIND MAN'S DEATH s ACCIDENT IN NEWMARKET VERDICT AT THE INQUEST A verdict of accidental death was returned by the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., after concluding an inquest into the death of Mr. Thomas William Buckley, a blind man, of middle-age, who was knocked down by a tramcar in Broadway, Newmarket, on October 4, and died at the Auckland Hospital the following day. Deceased was on his way to a Salvation Army meeting when the accident occurred. Major T. E. Holmes,, of the Salvation ArmyJ gave evidence of identification. He said deceased was employed at the Blind Institute as a basket maker. He had been a member of the Salvation Army for over 20 years. Constable Hendren said he had previously assisted deceased across tho road on numerous occasions, and had found him a hard man to assist. As soon as he felt anyone take hold of his arm he hurried away and it was necessary to hold on to him. Ernest August Hegh, labourer, said that on the evening in question he saw a blind man and he asked if the blind man wanted to cross the street. He took him by the right hand and started to cross. There were no tramcars in sight. They were standing between the two sets of tram tracks waiting for some motorcars to pass when he suddenly heard the gong of a tram, and saw that an outwardbound tram was right on top of them. When deceased heard the gong he jumped backward, dragging witness with him. Witness struck the side of the tram, but, as far as he knew, deceased was not hit. He could not estimate the speed of the tram. Mrs. Frances Hegh, who witnessed the accident, said she considered the tram was travelling at a reasonable speed. She thought the accident would not have happened if the gong had not been sounded, as deceased stepped back when he heard it. Harold Booth, the diiver of the tram, said he saw the two men when he was 10ft. from them. He sounded the gong and applied the brakes. He believed the car first struck Hegh, and was unable to say whether or not it actually hit deceased. Prior to the accident he had been travelling about 10 miles an hour. The tram travelled only 3ft. after striking Hegh. r lhe finding was that deceased died at the Auckland Hospital on October 5, the cause of death being a fracture of the skull and laceration of the brain, received through being accidentally knocked down by a tramcar in Newmarket.