CLARENDON FATALITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22368, 15 September 1934, Page 19

CLARENDON FATALITY

.ADJOURNED INQUEST CHARGE OF NEGLIGENT DRIVING. (Fboxi Ouk Own Corkesi’ONUent.) MILTON, September 14. Tbe adjourned inquest was held at the Milton Courthouse this morning into the circumstances surrounding the death ol a young man named Thomas Twaddle, aged 1 18 years, who was killed near Clarendon'on Saturday, August 4, us the result- of a collision between his motor cycle and a motor car driven by W illiam James Strang, of Invercargill. Iu conjunction with the inquest, a charge was laid against Strang of negligently driving the car, thereby causing the death of Twaddle. Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M., presided as magistrate and coroner. The inquiry was conducted by Detective Sergeant Doyle (Dunedin). Mr A. C. Hanlon, K.C., appeared on behalf of the accused, and Mr D. J. Sumpter watched the proceeding on behalf of the relatives. Dr N. T. Mirams, Medical practitioner, Milton, gave evidence that he was called to the scene of the accident about 6.4 a p.m. on the date mentioned, and proceeded there in company with Constable Kerse. The deceased’s body was lying m the water channel.. On examination ho discovered head injuries, with laceration of the brain. Death must have been instantaneous. The body was removed to the Morgue at Milton Hospital, where, on further examination,- witness discovered other extensive injuries, including compound facture of the right leg. There was not the slightest evidence of liquor about the deceased. Wituess questioned Strang, the driver of the car, as to how the accident occurred, but he did not answer. The head injuries were consistent with the deceased having been struck by some portion of the motor car. Death was due to a fracture or tlie skull and the other extensive injuries. , Francis Stoddart Little, surveyor in the employ of the Survey Department, produced a plan which he had prepaicd of the scene of the. accident, and gave evidence regarding the position of the motor vehicles on the road. After the foregoing evidence had been heard at the sitting of the Magistrates Court in the charge against Strong, the Coroner’s Court was opened, when evidence in the inquest was resumed. Alexander William Milne (Dunedin), motor driver for Robinson’s Motor transport Service, gave evidence that he was proceeding from Invercargill to Dunedin in a six-wheel Leyland motor lorry, and was accompanied by a passenger, George Stanley Jones, who was journeying from Gore to Dunedin. When passing the hall ■at Clarendon witness was, driving on Ins correct side, and maintained that course, about three to four feet from the grass on the left-hand side. He noticed m the mirror on his lorry theJights of a niotoi vehicle -.following behind, Wither over to his left side. He waefiavelliug at about 15 miles an hour. ’Witness also noticed the light of a .motor cycle approaching ■ from a northerly duection. I He • estimated that the speed of the motor cycle was about 20 miles per hour. The motor car travelling behind witness s lorry had almost caught up, and he heard a crash -immediately after the motor cycle had passed-his lorry. The .crash sounded as if it had occurred at the tail end of the lorry. He immediately stopped and went back, when lie discovered the motor cycle lying about 20 yards to the rear of the lorry, and facing towards Milton. The .motor cycle was Tying on the near side of the road, with the deceased’s body directly opposite in the water channel. Strang bad also stopped his car and returned to the scene of the accident. Strang asked witness what speed he thought he (Strang) was travelling at. Witness could not remember replying. to Strang, but.the latter continued by remarking, I think Ims doing 30 to 35 miles an hour. , Before Witness stopped his . lorry Strang s moto -car cut across in front ot his (witness s) 'lorry to the left-hand side of the road, narrowly missing striking the front mudguard. Witness estimated that Strang was travelling at about 40 miles an hour when he passed the lorry and cut m front. Strang’s car proceeded, about 60 yards after- the crash before it was stopped, about 10 yards beyond the junction leading to Berwick road.. The night was dark, but good for driving. The road was dry'and the visibility good. He did not hear Strang sound the horn of his motor car. The road was straight tor a considerable distance, and tbe surface covered with metal screenings. When passing the lorry, the deceased was riding the motor cycle well over towards hia correct side‘ of the road. To the coroner: The motor cycle was lying about four feet from the edge of the channel, and about a similar distance from the body. • .. ■ George Stanley Jones, metal worker, North-East: Valley, Dunedin, who was a passenger on the previous witness s lorry, gave corroborative evidence. He estimated that Strang’s car was travelling about 30. to 35 miles an hour when he passed the motor lorry, and swerved across the road immediately in front ot the lorry. Witness heard Strang say 1 did not see the man.” The night was dark but the visibility was good, and the weather was fine. - Evidence was also given by Constable A. Kerse, Milton, who accompanied Dr Mirams to the scene of the fatality. After their arrival Strang came to witness and remarked “I am -the driver of the car and have killed a man.” Witness also gave evidence regarding the position of the lorry, cycle, and motor car on his arrival. He examined Strang’s car—a five-seater Buiek sedan—which was bespattered with blood on one side and on portion of t.ic glass iu the windscreen. He did not take any measurements that night, but returned next morning, when he discovered the handle grip of the deceased’s motor cycle lying on the road in some broken glass. Formal evidence was also given by Detective Sergeant Doyle, who produced photographs of the locality. This concluded the evidence in the inquest, which was formally adjourned sine Magistrate’s Court was reopened, when the various . witnesses attested to their evidence at the inquest, Strang was formally charged and pleaded not guilty., The defence was reserved, and he was committed for trial at the October sitting of the Supreme Court. Bail was allowed in one surety of £IOO and self £IOO.