STREET FATALITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23708, 15 July 1940, Page 6

STREET FATALITY

PIKE ENGINE INVOLVED f * PEDESTRIAN KNOCKED DOWN MALICIOUS ALARM CALL Struck by a fire engine on its way to answer what subsequently proved to bo a malicious false alarm, a man was fatally injured as he was crossing the road at the corner of Hobson Street and Victoria Street, City, shortly after eight o'clock oil Saturday night. The victim was:— Mr. Joe Kostanich, a Dalmatian fisherman, married, aged 41, of Helensville. Two fire engines were despatched from the central station to answer a call to an alarm box at the corner of Albert Street and Customs Street West. As they were travelling down Hobson Street, the first machine pulled out near the Victoria Street intersection to pass a motor-car. Firemen on the engine said they saw Mr. Kostanich and a friend, Mr. Milan Yurakj of 15 Waitoa Street, Parnell, step off the kerb on the eastern side of Hobson Street. Mr, Yurak caught the other by the arm, but bis grasp was brushed off, and Mr. Kostanich continued to walk across the street.

When struck by the engine, Mr. Kostanich was carried for a distance of about 20 yards. The engine stopped, left one man behind to render first aid, and then proceeded to its call, which was found to have been made maliciously. Mr. Kostanich was taken to the Auckland Hospital suffering from a compound fracture of the skull, his condition on admission being considered too critical for a transfusion, for which an offer to donate blood was made by the fireman left to assist. Mr. Kostanich died a little over an hour after the accident.

An inquest will be opened to-day before Mr. F. K. Hunt, coroner.