BLIND MAN'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22319, 17 January 1936, Page 12

BLIND MAN'S DEATH

STRUCK BY MOTOR-TRUCK VERDICT AT THE INQUEST j The adjourned inquest into the death I of Roger William Corbett, aged 48, j an almost completely blind man, who i received fatal injuries when he was ' struck by a motor-truck in Broadway, Newmarket, on December 19, was concluded before Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., coroner, yesterday afternoon. Lengthy evidence was given by the driver of the truck, Lawrence Wilfred Mudgway (Mr. .North), and other witnesses on Monday. At yesterday's hearing, Ernest Bodford said ho was driving behind the truck when tho accident occurred. When the truck stopped, the rear riizht wheel was resting on deceased's body. The driver jumped out of his cab, and, on seeing the position, immediately went back and drove tho vehicle forward. Tho coroner said that a previous witness had stated that the rear right wheel of the truck was not on the man's body, but was merely pressing against it, the action of the driver in moving the vehicle forward causing the wheel to pass over the body. However, that witness admitted that in the excitement of the moment ho might not have noticed the driver get down from the (ruck, view the position of deceased, and then drive forward. However, it appeared evident that the wheel was actually on deceased's body when tho trunk was pulled up. I here was no evidence of negligence, the truck proceeding slowly at the time and being pulled up promptly. Adding that it was unfortunate that, deceased" who had limited vision, stopped right in Iront of the truck, the coroner returned a verdict of accidental death.