CAR’S FATAL PLUNGE

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12197, 23 July 1925, Page 5

CAR’S FATAL PLUNGE

KELBURN ACCIDENT “ACCIDENTALLY CRUSHED TO DEATH” CORONER’S INQUIRY The inquiry into the sensational and tragic motor accident in which Thomas Campbell Mclntyre, the driver was killed, was brought to a close yesterday before the Coroner, Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M. The fatality took place in Salamanca road in the early hours of Monday morning, June 29th, and besides the deoeased there were in the car Mr Jack King, who suffered a broken pelvis, Mrs King, who was badly bruised and suffered from shock, and Mr David Helper, who was injured about the face. The deceased ana the other occupants of the car had been at a party and were returning to their homes. At the inquiry, Sergeant Butler appeared for the police, Mr J. O’Shea, for the City Council, and Mr J. L. Maule, for the relatives of the deceased. , Dr. J. S. Elliott, who was summoned to the scene shortly after the accident, said he saw the car upside down over a bank on the road. The deoeased was dead, another 1 man was i

injured internally, while others were not so seriously hurt. To Mr O’Shea: A man who was suffering from concussion might not he able_ to remember events that happened immediately before the accident. NO SIGN OF DRINK Mr Maule: Was. there any sign of drink ?—Witness: None. The hostess of the party, Kathleen Maloolm, a married woman, residing in Salamanca road, said that the deceased had made three trips down the road, taking people to their homes before he left with Mr and Mrs King and Mr Helper. , About twelve minutes after they left Mr Helper came back for aid. Mrs McKay went back .with her husband and they were the first two on the scene. She immedi-, ately went, back and rang up Dr.' Elliott. Sergeant Butler: Some of the male members had a glass of ale for supper P —Witness: Yea. The Coroner: You needn’t go into that. Dr. Elliott said there was none. Sergeant Butler:- Was Mr Mclntyre a good driver P ’ COMPETENT DRIVER Witness: Yes, he hail driven me several times. Mr Maule: Did you notice any loose metal on the road at the soene of the accident? Witness: Yes, I did notice It. Polioe-Sergeant Dukes said ' that there was a certain amount of silt or mud on the road when the accident happened owing to the heavy rain and the tracks of the car were quite clear right up the hill. Fifteen yards hack they' had got into a water table. From that point to the scene of the accident he went across the road at an angle of 45 degrees. The night in question was -very dark and there was a drizzling rain. The place however, was well lighted and _ the lights of the car were burning brightly when they arrived on the scene. Mr O’Shea: Did you see anything in the state of the road that would warrant, the accident? TOO FAR TO THE RIGHT Witness: No, evidently the deceased had kept to the right for safety and had got too far over and into the water table. . The Coroner said that the evidenoe did not show definitely how the accident happened, but- it would he impossible to obtain an exact account of the occurrence, as the driver of the car was killed instantly, while, one man was seriously injured and another was suffering - from shock. The facts showed clearly that the deceased was a competent driver and had taken three parties -from the house to their homes previously during the night. Each time he had proceeded along the same road with safety. One could only assume that the road was_ welllighted, and according to the evidence of Sergeant Dukes, the lights of the car were also on. The windscreen had been cleaned before the trip had been commenced, and the car had not got very far before it went over the bank. DRIVER HINDERED As the Sergeant had said, the car bad evidently got too far over to the right-hand side of the road, and as the car had more persons in it than were comfortable, the driver was handicapped to some extent in manipulating his steering gear. Thus the car had apparently gone over the bank before the deoeased could Tight himself. The verdict was that the deceased died of Injuries received through being crushed by a motor-car. which was driven by himself, and which accidentally went over a hank in Salamanca road.