KILLED BY A LORRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7929, 12 October 1911, Page 11

KILLED BY A LORRY

MR GEORGE DRAKE’S DEATH.

DRIVER OF VEHICLE EXONERATED.

The city coroner (Dr. A, McArthur) held an inquest yesterday touching ths death, of George Drake, assistant clerk of works for the Wellington Harbour Board, who was accidentally killed in Waterloo quay on Monday last. Station-Sergeant Darby represented the* police, Mr T. S. Weston appeared for the Harbour Board, and Mr Triugham for tho widow. Dr. Anderson said that when he saw deceased at 11.10 a.m. on Monday on the wharf he had apparently just died. Ji» his opinion death was due to shock; possibly to internal hemorrhage or rupture of one of the organs. The left forearm was severely injured. The lorry, ho un derstood, had passed over the abdomen, but ho found no marks to indicate that.. Air Weston: You are satisfied thatth* wheel did not pass over the body?—No. The witness explained that hiS examination was only a cursory one. Edward Robert Wood, carter, said ho was talking to the deceased, who aft©? a few minutes mounted his bicycle to ride away. Witness heard a clatter, and saw that deceased had run into the horses, which were drawing a lorry, il* fell to tho ground and the left front, wheel passed over, his chest. The rear wheel passed over the body at about th* samo place. The driyor was standing ii> his place pulling on the reins. He had full control of the horses.

Station-Sergeant Darby: Do you think it possible that tho driver could havfe avoided the accident? Witness: Impossible, in my opinion.

William Henry Ferriss, chief fhemp grader, was standing in K store ir. Waterloo quay when he saw the waggon leaving the store loaded with ton dumps of hemp. When it had reached about the Glasgow wharf the driver turned the horses. Deceased crossed the rail, way line on a bicycle and turned to the left. Witness called a warning. Deceased, who was riding with his head down, collided with one of tho horseN immediately after. He tried to grip tho shaft, but fell in front'd the .wheel, which went over his chest. The back wheel went over his loft wrist. Tho driver of the vehicle had absolutely no chance to avoid th© accident.

Albert James Armstrong, driver of th© lorry with which deceased collided, said he was going from K shed to the King’s wharf when the accident occurred. He was pulling up when tho deceased struck the horse-. Ho could rot in any way have prevented tho accident.A verdict of accidental death was returned, the coroner stating that no blame whatever was attachable to the driver.