OTAUTAU NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 20173, 9 May 1927, Page 4

OTAUTAU NOTES

INQUEST ON MOTOR VICTIM. An inquest into the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of John Leonard Gutschlag, who passed away through being run over by a motor lorry, was held at the Otautau Courthouse on Friday last, before Mr John Fisher (Acting Coroner) and a jury. Evidence was given by August Gutschlag that deceased who was his son, was aged 13 in April, and was attending the Otautau School. Dr. W. B. Reekie said he had an urgent call to Mr Sinclair’s shop on Wednesday, and found the boy was suffering intensely from injury and shock. He was pulseless, and witness concluded he was in a dangerous condition. After giving him an injection, with good results, he examined him and found that the superficial injuries consisted of gravel rash on the face, and extended gravel rash on his right side. The boy was suffering from a fractured pelvis, which he thought was broken in two places. There was also an extensive deep bruising of the left groin. He considered the cause of death was intense shock (induced by badly fractured pelvis) causing heart failure. Owen Gallagher, fruiterer, who had a shop adjacent to where the accident took place said he was inside his shop about 12.30 p.m. on Wednesday and distinctly heard the horn of the motor lorry going continuously as it was coming out of the right-of-way at Keith’s hotel. He also heard the school children passing the front door. The lorry must have been travelling very slowly, as the horn was sounding for some time in the right-of-way. James Thomson, a schoolboy, said that along with Gordon Bone and deceased, he was going home from school. They had got as far as the baker’s shop, when deceased ran back to Matheson's for a message. On coming out again he started to run, and he did not see him again until after the accident. Allan Maxwell, another schoolboy who saw the accident, said he heard the horn of the motor lorry sounding as it was coming out of Keith’s right-of-way. He saw deceased fun into the door of it and fall or. slip under the inside of the left hand back wheel, which went over him. Basil Cussen saw the lorry coming on to the footpath just as deceased ran past and was close to the right-of-way when he ran into the door, and slipped and fell under the lorry, the back wheel passing over him. The Rev. Snell picked him up immediately after the accident. Frank Thomson stated that he was just going to warn deceased when the lorry came between, and he ran into it. The lorry was going at a walking pace. The Rev. L. J. B. Snell said his attention was drawm to the lorry on the day in question, which was coming out of Keith’s right-of-way, and was making a good deal of noise. The way was clear in front when he glanced at the lorry. He was on the opposite side of the road, and heard a scream, and when he looked he saw the boy underneath the lorry. He ran across and carried him into Mr Sinclair’s shop. He afterwards went for the doctor, who ordered the boy to the hosptial. The lorry was appearing on the footpath when he saw it, and was making a great noise. Charles Renowden, lorry proprietor, Otau. tau, stated he had delivered some travellers’ samples at Keith’s rooms. On coming out of the right-of-way slowly, and about two chains from the entrance he noticed school children passing. The lorry was in second gear, and he kept sounding the horn every few yards. He blew the horn again when the front part of the lorry was coming on to the footpath and looked right and left. He felt a slight bump as he left the foot, path and heard the boys calling to him. He was surprised the boy was run over, as the way appeared clear. He had been driving a lorry for six years and had never had an accident. He was driving much slower than five miles an hour. From the right hand driving seat he could not see a boy hitting the lorry behind the door of the cab. Evidence was given by Constable Moore that the accident had been reported by Renowden, who had given a statement and produced his license. He had known Re nowden for four years, and considered him to be a competent driver. He had also obtained a statement from the boy after the doctor had examined him.

The jury returned the following verdict: “That deceased, John Leonard Gutschlag, met his death by coming into contact with a motor lorry, driven by Charles Renowden, no blame being attachable to the driver, being purely accidental.”