STRUCK BY VAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23067, 18 June 1938, Page 17

STRUCK BY VAN

WELLINGTON FATALITY MRS. RIDDIFORD'S DEATH EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Friday An inquest into the death of the lato Mrs. Eleanor Caroline Riddiford, aged 74, widow of the late Mr. E. J. Riddiford, was held to-day at Lower Hutt. The district coroner, Mr. E. Gilbertson, returned a verdict that death was due to injuries received through being knocked down in Woburn Road by a motor-van driven by Robert Richmond Southorn. Mr. E. F. Rothwell represented Southorn. Dr. W. J. Hutchison said that Mrs. Riddiford suffered a fractured skull and died without regaining consciousness. The Coroner: Was her hearing or sinht impaired? Witness: Not at all. Ellen Margaret Bunny said that prior to the accident, she met her aunt, Mrs. Riddiford, who was leaving witness' parents' homo to cross Woburn Road to her own home opposite. Van Driver's Evidence Southorn said ho was driving his van west along Woburn Road at 5.40 p.m. at 28 miles an hour. Approaching St. Albans avenue intersection, he dipped his lights because of an approaching car and, passing it, put them on full again. When 30ft. past the intersection, he saw Mrs. Riddiford just over the crown of the road on his correct side. She appeared to be hesitating and then made a sudden move toward the kerb on his left. At the same time there was a car fairly close to him approaching from behind. He applied his brakes and swerved suddenly to his right to avoid colliding with Mrs. Riddiford. He thought ho had cleared her, but because he heard a slight sound when passing her he stopped. Returning he found Mrs. Riddiford lying on the roadway. Witness said there was a fine rain falling and the lighting in the locality was very poor. He considered tho cause of the accident was Mrs. Itiddiford's hesitation and her making a sudden movement which cave him no opportunity of avoiding her entirely. To Mr. Rothwell, Southorn said Mrs. Riddiford was wearing black clothes, which did not show up at all on tho dark, wet road. She appeared to„have her head down. Lights in Good Order Constable W. H. Smith said the point of impact fixed by Southorn was 13ft. from the south kerb and 36ft. from a street light at the intersection of St. Albans Avenue. The road was wet and visibility bad because of the drizzling rain. He could find no trace of skid marks. The van lights were in good order. Mrs. Riddiford appeared to have been struck by the point of the lefthand front mudguard and left-hand side of tho front bumper. Stanley Grant Wills, milk roundsman, said ho was driving 15yds. behind Southorn at 25 miles an hour. There was drizzling rain and bad visibility. Tho locality was poorly lit. This fact, together with tho rain, was, in his opinion, one of tho main causes of the accident.