CAR DRIVEN JOINTLY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16202, 27 November 1926, Page 13

CAR DRIVEN JOINTLY

CORONER'S STRONG COMMENT.

SEQUEL TO FATALITY

(.Special to tii£ JUpiakt.. UiaKiH'fClfCßCii, this day

The Coroner, Mi'. Ji. i\ Rawiy, Yesterday conducted the adjourned inquest concerning tiie death ot Mys. Ajpuida Featherstone, who died as tiie result ut injuries received through being crushed by a motor-car at .Sumner on Sunday, October 24. (A brief report appeared ip last night’s Herald). “I cannot comment too strongly op the dangerous practice adopted on this occasion,” said Mr. Lowry. He went on to say that the dual control had contributed considerably to the accident. When W. J. Lugg, one of the drivers, put the car into gear he mtist have put it into top gear instead of low. In the course of the evidence William John Lugg, owner of the car, gaid tjjat he and Mr. Neale went to Sumner on Sunday, October 24, for a run. Neither had a drink. Witness drove the car down, and it was suggested that Neale should drive back. In starting, the car stalled at first, but on the second attempt it bounded away suddenly. The whole thing happened so quickly that jie was not clear as to what really did occur. The car struck something 'before hitting the seat. Witness said he was to attend to the gear changing wfiilj Neale drove. They had done this ‘before satisfactorily. - The reason for doing this was that Neale’s left hand }yas infirm-

Henry Neale, clerk to the Springs County Council, said it had been arranged tliat he should drive the car back. He had been driving a car iof years, the gear lovers always being on the right band side. The car was started at "Sumner by witness first declutching with his left loot and putting his other foot on the self starter. He did not try the levers as lie did not understand them. When he let the clutch out the engine stalled. He started the engine again and when lie let the clutch out the ear jumped forward. He eon Id not say what gear the car was in, but started much faster than any car lie had known.

A verdict was returned t hat death was due to a fractured skull owing to Mrs. Feaihepstoiie being crushed against a monument by a motor-ear driven jointly by Homy Neale and Milliam John Lngg.