WOMAN'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22406, 30 April 1936, Page 15

WOMAN'S DEATH

REMUERA FATALITY POORLY-LIGHTED AREA A DANGER TO TRAFFIC The inquest into the death of Mrs. Gertrude Atkinson, aged 46, who was knocked down by a light delivery van and killed in Remuera l?oad, near Victoria Avenue, shortly before 8 p.m. on April 6, was held before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., coroner, yesterday. The driver of tho van, Willio Wong, a Chinese butcher, of Manukau Road, Epsom, was represented by Mr. Tong, while Senior-Detective Hall appeared for the police, Mr. North for the relatives of the deceased, and Mr. Goldstine for an insurance company concerned. Wong said he was driving his van along Remuera Road in the direction of Newmarket, when suddenly the deceased appeared in front of him, about three feet away. He was proceeding at about 20 miles an hour, oil his correct side, but he could not at that stage avoid the accident. He had been driving a car for the past 12 years and had not previously been involved in an accident. It was not a clear night for driving. Harold Sydney Rose said lie was employed by Wong, and was riding in the van with him on the night of the accident. He did not see the woman until the van was about to strike her. Wong brought the van to a standstill within 19 feet of the impact. He thought deceased was walking across the road diagonally. A traffic inspector, Earnest Walter Johnston, said he saw Wong's van proceeding along Remuera Road at about 15 to 20 miles an hour. Tho street where the accident occurred was badly lighted and dangerous. He had tested the brakes and the light* on the van, and had found that thev were efficient.

In finding that death was duo to a fracture of the skul), caused by deceased being accidentally knocked down by a van, the coroner said he thought the traffic inspector should draw the attention of the authorities to the danger that existed - at night on the portion of the road where the accident occurred.