PURELY ACCIDENTAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3757, 16 March 1926, Page 59

PURELY ACCIDENTAL.

A CYCLIST’S DEATH

The inquest concerning the death of John Emil Job 1180$ who was killed through colliding with a corporation bus at the coiner j of Cumberland and High streets was con* | eluded before the coroner (Mr H. W« I Bundle, S.M.) on Saturday morning. Sergeant Dunlop represented the police, Mr A. C. Hanlon appeared for the driver, Mr G. T. Baylee for the relatives, and Mr A. N. Hnggrttt for the <'itv Corporation. The Coroner, in giving his decision, said that from the evidence there seemed no doubt that the cyclist intended to proceed north along past the Leviathan Hotel. A'i collision occurred between the cyclist and I a corporation bus. I he statements of the witnesses varied considerably as to die traffic that was about at the time. Points to be considered were the volume of traffio in Ihe vicinity and the speed of the motor bus. and whether the motor bus driver were responsible for the accident. His Worship went on to review the evidence to show the variance of the witnesses as to the traffic about. The two lorries mentioned' by the driver had not been traced ; it had been found impossible to find them. Peoplaj did not come forward willingly and gived evidence. It was strange in regard to the discrepancy between the evidence of the two men standing in the bus and the driver’s. He must, however, accept the evidence of the driver that the two lorries were leaving and turning round ihe corner, of the (Queen’s Gardens to proceed up High street. It seemed from iho evidence that the cyclist must have come from that rear of one of the lorries; lie could not] 3ee that he could possibly have come j from between them. The speed of the' motor bus was given variously by different/ witnesses. One said 15 to 20 miles per. hour; another 18 to 20; another eight to' 10; and the driver, 10 to 12 miles. One had to be chary, however, in accepting evidence of speed after an accident had occurred, because, necessarily so, witnes-* ses were inclined to exaggerate. The driver said he was doing 10 to 12 miles.! From the evidence he (the coroner) was unable to find that the bus was driven at an excessive speed, but it was possibly going slightly faster than the driver stated. He agreed with the driver when he said that, seeing the cyclist only sft. off his left front wheel, he could do nothing but swerve to the right to try to miss him. He had examined the bus, and the hole made by the handle-bars of the. cycle, and had come to the conclusion' there had been considerable impact. He could only find from tbe evidence that the bus driver swerved, and that it was the result of that that actually caused the collision.

The verdict was: “That deceased died on February 22, in Dunedin Hospital, of heart failure, due to congestion of the lungs following shock and injuries received thorugh being accidentally' knocked down on February 19.”

“ These proceedings must emphasise th/ dangerous nature of the locality,” said the coroner. “I would like to be certain that all bus drivers are extremely careful at this spot. I have certainly seen evidence of careless driving by bus drivers, corporation and others—buses being driven at excessive speed—and f have > seen a driver attempting to drive with one hand while lie was collecting fared with the other hand. I don’t say that was a corporation bus.” On the evi-» dence before him in the present case it l would appear that the occurrence was a puie accident, though he felt it to be liis duty to point out to the driver that when he saw the lorries come from the Gardens corner he should have slowed down under the speed at which he said" he was travelling. His Worship said 1 he would add no rider.