A BUGGY ACCIDENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2913, 12 January 1910, Page 18

A BUGGY ACCIDENT.

VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH.

At the Hospital on the 4t,h inst. an inquiry was held on the body of Robert Rankin, whose death occurred o.s the result of a buggy accident near Brighton on New Year's Day. Mr C. C. Graham officiated as coroner, and proceedings were watched on behalf of the police by Stationsergeant King, and on behalf of deceased's employers (Messrs Thomson and Co., cordial manufacturers) by Mr G. C. Thornson.

William Johnstone, an employee with deceased at Thomson's farm, Wairongoa, deposed that on New Year's Day he and deceased, who was a single man, 29 years of age, drove to Brighton. Deceased was driving' on the return journey, and after getting- some distance from Brighton they caught up with a fdur--w heeled trap, which was on the wrong - side of the road. Deceased did not call out, but tried to pass on the wrong side, as there was plenty of room. They were passing - all right, when the horse shied on from the drag-, took the wheel up the hank, and capsized them. Witness was unhurt save for some bruises, but on rising- he noticed that deceasea was lying in the middle of the road unconscious. With the aid of those who were in the drag, who did all they could, deceased was removed to Abbotsford. The pace at which they caught up with the drag wati moderate. At Brighton before they left each had had two drinks of whisky, as well as having had a shandygaff in the day. It was possible that deceased might have had more drinks than this, as lie had attended the Brighton sports, and had not been in witness's company all the day. There was no drink in the trap, and witness considered deceased was quite sober and able to drive. At the place where the accident occurred the road was very narrow. Joseph Simmonds stated that on the dav in question he and his wife and family had proceeded to Brighton in a iandau from the Rink Stables driven by Prentice, a groom. On their way back they passed a waggonette, and were just pulling back to their proper side of the road when witness, from his position inside the landau, noticed a trap which was travelling very fast come abreast of them. The trap went on to the bank, and the occupants were thrown out. As a result of the upset the body of the trap was broken from the springs, and the horse bolted with the wheels. In falling the body of the trap came in contact with the near horse of their landau, and caused some temporarv confusion. In this confusion witness felt a jolt, and in his opinion the carriage passed over the head of deceased. Personally, he knew deceased, and had always found him a sober and steady man. Witness did not believe that if ho had been in the full possession of his senses deceased would have attempted to pass in the way ho did. Dr Falconer (Dtiredm Hospual) gave evidence that on deceased's admittance_ to the Hospital he was found to be suffering from a fractured skull. There were also two soalp wounds of a somewhat serious nature. On admittance deceased >vas unconscious, and remained in that state till his death. 'l.ho post mortem examination revealed extensive fractures to the base of the skull. There was no ernell of alcohol wheti deceased was admitted to the Hospital. The driver of the landau, Joseph Prentice, gave evidence corroborating that of the witness Simmonds. In his opinion there was room to pass on the road if deceased

had driven carefully Witness had no drink that day, and was driving slowiy when the accident occurred. He had hid three or four years' experience a,s a. driver. The Coroner said that from the evident;} it was clear that deceased had been accidental killed by receiving a fracture ct the skull, due to the upsetting or a buggy, but that no blame was attachable to anyone, except perhaps deceased, who had committed an <rror of judgment in tryin" to paw on the wrong side of the, road at° a fast pace, and without giving the diiver of the other vehicle warning of his approach. A verdict of accidental death was accordingly returned.