FAMILY’S DEATH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22790, 27 January 1936, Page 10

FAMILY’S DEATH

KILLED IN ROAD CRASH Dramatic evidence was given by a motorist at a Romford inquest recently on a father, mother, and daughter killed while returning from a reunion party at Chadwell Heath. The victims were: Alfred Hubert York, 65, retired engineer; Mary Caroline York, 00, his wife; Caroline May York, 35, his daughter, all of Clydesdale road, Romford. The coroner, Mr C. E. Lewis, adjourned the inquest sine die, saying he would await the rhsult of any proceedings that might be taken. Charles Sturgess, of Boundary road, Upminster, said that when driving in Hornchurch road about 12.20 a.m. another car overtook him travelling at about 50 m.p.h. It had just sufficient room to gel between him and a double-decker bus coming in the opposite direction. He thought the bus had to mount the pavement to miss it. The other car then swerved across in front of him, mounted the pavement on its off side, struck some railings, ran along the pavement, and knocked a lamppost down. The escaping gas caught, alight. Just previously he had seen two women passing under the lamp-post. He pulled up and saw the two women lying on the pavement 30 or 40 yards from the post.

On his way to telephone for the ambulance he passed the car which had run into th lamp-post. A man whom he presumed to be the driver shouted to him to get an ambulance as there had been an accident.

He, Mr Sturgess, said: “ I know there has been; you ought to be shot,” or words to that effect. He also said; “ You have caused the deaths of two people.” The man said: “Don’t be silly.”

He saw another body in the front of the car in the road. The road was wet but not greasy.

Medical evidence was given that Mr York died from fracture of the skull, his daughter from a broken neck, and his wife in .Oldchurch Hospital from multiple injuries and shock. Police Sergeant Wiseman said there were tyre marks on the pavement. A man came up to him and said: “I am the driver of the car that knocked the people down.” Subsequently he ascertained that his name was Henry Eric Cole.