MOTOR SMASH

Southland Times, Issue 20676, 24 December 1928, Page 5

MOTOR SMASH

YOUNG MAN KILLED TRAGEDY ON NORTH ROAD CAR STRIKES TELEGRAPH POLE The North Road, with its long stretch ot smooth bitumen, has been the scene of numerous motoring mishaps in the past, but seldom before has such a terrible tragedy occurred as that which took place at the early hour of two o’clock yesterday morning when a heavy car, which had been travelling out the North Road, swerved sud. denly and struck a telegraph post with appalling results. The force of the impact was terrific, the car being utterly wrecked. Sydney Harold Patton, aged 28, single, an electrician, employed by Messrs A. and T. Burt, Ltd., Invercargill, received fatal injuries. Ronald George Day, a motor.driver by trade and the driver of the car at the time of the accident,, sustained severe scalp injuries and shock. Frederick Gerbes, the third passenger, facial injuries and shock. Before the Accident. Little did Sydney Patton realize when, accompanied by Gerbes, he called on Day about ten o’clock on Saturday evening and invited him to a meal in town, that the motor ride he was about to embark upon, was destined to be his last.

Deceased set out on Saturday evening in his car with Gerbes and it was decided to have supper in town. They invited Day, who resided in the same street, to join them and together the three set off. Trouble developed with the car before they had gone car, however, and on Day’s suggestion the party adjourned to his service station situated at the corner of North Road and Lewis otreet. After some time was spent in endeavouring to effect repairs, Day offered to drive his companions into town in his own car and his offer was acccepted. The three partook of a meal, and the hour was late when they set out on their homeward journey. The car sped steadily through the night until midway between Lowe street and Avenal Road, its course was deflected and the car swung abruptly across to the right-hand side of the road, crashing heavily into a telegraph post. The shattering noise of the impact, suddenly breaking the stillness, carried for some distance in the night and considerably alarmed residents in the vicinity. Results of the Impact. When the car struck the post the driver was hurled from the vehicle on to the footpath, being rendered unconscious by his fall and receiving the injuries mentioned above. Patton, who had been sitting next to the driver, was thrown violently through the windscreen, being badly cut by the broken glass, and struck his head against the post with such force that death was instantaneous. Gerbes had been sitting in the back seat, but the force of the impact thrust him over into the front seat into the place occupied by the driver’s feet. Two men, who had been horrified spectators of the smash, rushed over to lend their aid. Day recovered, .however, and while medical aid was being summoned, assisted Gerbes to his residence, which was only a little over a block away. Dr. W. J. Barclay, accompanied by Conetable Kirk, travelled immediately to the scene of the disaster, and after he had pronounced life to be extinct, Patton’s body was * removed in the ambulance to the morgue for final inspection.

Cause of the Accident. Day was treated by Dr. Barclay, who stitched his scalp wounds, and when seen by a Times reporter yesterday afternoon, stated that he had fallen asleep at the wheel. For some months past his business had occupied his every spare moment and the tension was beginning to react upon him. He had been very tired on the occasion of the accident and believed that when he reached Lowe street he had fallen sound asleep and his foot in some way had pressed on the accelerator with the result that the car had gained speed and swerved across the road, thus causing the accident. A visit was paid to the scene of the accident and some idea of the force of the impact was conveyed by the extensive damage to the telegraph post. The pole had been split into a number of sections and had been partly wrenched from its foundations. Broken glass littered the gutter while a big oil patch covered part of the roadway. Dark red stains of blood, visible on the post and gutter, told their tragic story. Some of the overhead wires were damaged and the light failed in houses nearby. It was found -necessary to cut off the power supply for some considerable time while electricians effected temporary repairs. Inquest Opened. An inquest into Patton’s death was opened at the morgue at 12.30 p.m. yesterday before Mr G. Cruickshank, Coroner. Formal evidence of identification was given by deceased’s uncle, John Patton, manager of the Browns lime works, and adjourned sine die. The relatives of deceased, who was a popular and well-known young man, reside in Wellington and have been advised of the tragedy. They will arrive in Invercargill this evening.