FARM HAND'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22141, 21 June 1935, Page 18

FARM HAND'S DEATH

PINNED UNDER TRUCK EVIDENCE AT INQUEST [FEOM OCB OWN CORRESPONDENT] HAMILTON, Thursday ,An inquest into, the death of Oliver Edmund James, aged 28, farm labourer, who died 'from injuries suffered in * a motor accident at Te • Rapa on the evening of May 10, was held this morning before the corcner, Mr., F. k W. Platts, S.M. Graham Bartley, farmer, of Horotiu, said that the time of the accident he was driving his truck on the correct side of the Great South lioad toWeird Hamilton. Tii© deceased, who worked for him? and witness' wife. A car travelling m the opposite direction struck the front of the truck and overturned it. Ihey were all pinned under the truck. Dr D F. Price, of the medical state of the WaikatQ Hospital, said that deceased was admitted shortly after the accident and recovered consciousness. An operation was performed, bjit he died early next morning. Deceased was suffering from a fracture of the - skull and other serious injuries. The driver of the car, Robert Outford Wilson, farmer, of Te Rapa, gave, evidence that at the time of the accident he was on his way home. He was on the correct side and travelling, at about 25 miles an-hour. He saw the truck approach on its correct side, but just before the accident it went qn to . the crown of the road. Before he could do anything a collision took place. H« applied his brakes and pulled up od the side of the road. Gordon Rex Burnet, foreman mechanic, said that he had examined, th* steering gear of Wilson's car and that, apart from the damage suffered m tho collision, it was in good order. He conSdered that a leak in the mechanism of the hydraulic brakes had been there f ° The'coroner intimated that he would inspect the vehicles and give his verdict at'a later date.