FATAL ACCIDENT AT BLUFF

Southland Times, Issue 24447, 29 May 1941, Page 8

FATAL ACCIDENT AT BLUFF

Driver Committed For Sentence

John Munro Birss (Mr Eustace Russell) pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to a charge of negligently driving a motor-car in Gore street, Bluff,' on May 10 and causing the death of Heather Margaret Giles. Mr R. C. Abernethy, S.M., was on -the Bench.

Dr H. Hunter, medical superintendent of the Southland Hospital, said in evidence that about 5 p.m. on May 10 the child, Heather Margaret Giles, was'admitted to the Southland Hospital. He examined the child and found that she was in a seriously shocked condition. An X-ray examination revealed a fracture of the skull. The child died the same evening, the cause of death being shock following a fracture of the skull. The injuries could have been caused by the child being thrown from a motor-car. Horace M. Smith, a surveyor employed by the Lands Department, produced a plan of the scene of the accident. His examination was made on May 15. Ruth Mavis Cook, dressmaker, said she was in Bluff at the time of the accident and was walking in Gore street when it occurred. Her attention was attracted by a noise and she saw a small car travelling towards her. The car was travelling very fast and seemed to skid from one side of the road to the other. The car then somersaulted three times and came to rest on the incorrect side of the road. During the second somersault she saw a woman and a baby fall out of the car. “DANGEROUS SPEED” Leslie Gordon Newman, a waterside worker, of Bluff, said that about 3.40 p.m. on the day of the accident he was at the Greenhills railway station. He was speaking to the tablet porter when his attention was attracted by a roaring noise from a motor-car. The car was travelling at a very high speed towards Bluff. Near the intersection of the road leading to the health camp, the driver of the car attempted to pass another car and a lorry and the witness expected to see an accident. At the intersection the speeding car went over a slight bump and narrowly missed the lorry. The speed at which the cai’ was travelling was definitely dangerous and he thought the driver had taken leave of his senses. Arthur Emanuel Wixon, waterside worker of Bluff, said he was in Blackwater street when he noticed a small car travelling “flat out” towards Bluff. Coming towards Blackwater street the car was practically off the bitumen road, but later righted itself. However, the vehicle again went over to the incorrect side and, anticipating an accident, he watched it after it had passed him. He saw the car upside down in Gore street half-an-hour later. The witness estimated the speed of the car at between 40 and 50 miles an hour.

Constable G. H. Bilbrough said that in consequence of a message he received he went to Gore street and found an injured woman and child on the other side of the road. The accused, who said he was the driver of the car, appeared to be intoxicated. The witness said he examined the road and found skid marks 203 feet in length, and mostly on the incorrect side of the road. The accused was committed to the Supreme Court at Invercargill for sentence. INQUEST COMPLETED The inquest into the death of Heather Margaret Giles was completed in the Coroner’s Court yesterday before the Coroner (Mr R. C. Abernethy). The Coroner returned a verdict that she died at Invercargill on May 10, the cause of death being shock following a fracture of the skull, the injuries having been caused by the overturning of a motor-car driven by John Munro Birss.