THE PENALTY OF RASHNESS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20338, 21 February 1928, Page 10

THE PENALTY OF RASHNESS.

VICTIMS OF EXCESSIVE SPEED. (Special to Daily Times.) WANGANUI, February 20. “ These unfortunate young men paid the penalty for their rashness. I hoy were undoubtedly driving at an excessive speed, and it was a good thing they did not cause the death of other peopleMotorists who negotiate a turn at 40 miles an hour are looking for trouble, and they are a menace to other motorists on the road ” This was the finding of the coroner (Mr Pilkington) to-day, when returning his verdict at the inquest on David Hector M'Kenzie and William John Eorle, who were killed in a motor accident at Marangai Hill on February 15, ti.e evening before the races. William Emery De Malmanche, the third man in the car, who escaped with slight injuries, said he was picked up at. Levin. They left Levin after 3 p.m. M'Kenzie drove till they' got to Wangaehu. From there Earle took the wheel. Before they started to descend the nil they were travelling pretty fast, perhaps 40 miles an hour. He did not think that the speed was checked when they came to the first bend. He did not think that F.arle was expecting the corner. __ He felt the car skid, and knew that Earle was in difficulties. He thought the car was going to capsize. Earle partly righted the car, and it crossed the road again. It then seemed to leap off the road and cross a fence. Witness could not remember what happened after that. It was possible that Earle put his foot on the accelerator instead of the brake. Such a mistake would account for ihe car appearing to jump as it left the road. They had stopped at Foston, Bulls, and Turakina and had light drinks. Thomas Quirke, motor mechanic, said that on February 15 he was driving from Turakina to Wanganui. Shortly before 6 o’clock he was approaching Marangai Hill when a car overtook and passed him at a fast rate of speed, about 35 to 40 miles an hour. He saw the car swing outwards as it rounded the bend. When he reached the bend he looked for the car, a.nd as it was not on the road ne pulled up and looked into a paddock. There he saw the car on its wheels 80 yards or 100 yards down the bank. It was badly smashed. Further investigation revealed two men badly knocked about, and a third man, who. although dazed, was not badly injured. He considered the corner a safe one to take at a reasonable speed. A verdict was returned that the deceased met their death through the acci dental overturning of a car driven at an excessive speed.