CRASH INTO POLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22819, 28 August 1937, Page 17

CRASH INTO POLE

INQUEST ON LORRY DRIVER SUDDEN ILLNESS AT WHEEL [from our own correspondent"] CAMBRIDGE, Friday A verdict that Stephan Tapp, aged 58, a skin buyer, of Frankton, died from injuries received when tho motortruck he was driving collided with a telegraph pole on tho HamiltonCambridge road on Wednesday, was returned by the coroner, Mr. F. W. Platts, S.M., at the inquest held in the Cambridge Courthouse yesterday. The evidence showed that, owing to what was probably a heart attack, deceased lost control of his truck. Percival William Smith, of. Hamilton, that lie was driving toward Cambridge when ho saw Mr. Tapp's truck approaching at about 40 miles an hour on a straight pieco of road. It was raining slightly at the time. When about a chain distant, tho truck swerved suddenly toward tho left side of the road, then back toward tho middle, passing witness' car with about sft. to spare. Witness pulled tip. The truck careered wildly on until it'struck a telegraph polo and capsized. Tho polo was broken by tho impact. Tho driver appeared to have been killed outright. According to the medical evidence, there was an extensive fracture at tho base of tho skull, sufficient to causo death. It was apparent that Mr. Tapp had been suffering from somo chronic cardiac condition.