CYCLING FATALITY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 749, 23 August 1929, Page 1

CYCLING FATALITY

MAN THROWN FROM MACHINE TAKAPUNA ACCIDENT As the result of the front wheel of his cycle suddenly - collapsing, Mr. Robert Douglas Budge, aged 35, married, received fatal injuries to his head at about 4.30 yesterday afternoon. Mr. Budge, accompanied by a friend, was cycling on the Lake Road Takapuna, in the direction of his home in East Coast Road, Milford, when the front wheel of his machine suddenly collapsed and he was thrown heavily, striking his head against the kerb. The injured man was removed to a neighbouring house, and later to the Auckland Hospital, where he died about an hour after admission. Mr. Budge was a retired naval man and since settling ashore had been attached to the staff of the naval base at Devonport. He was a prominent member of the Takapuna Municipal Band. As a mark of respect to the deceased, no work will be done tomorrow by the voluntary workers upon the new band-room, which is being erected at Taharoto Park. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST Evidence was given by Montague William George Wareham when an inquest was opened before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., this morning. Witness said that he and Budge were cycling home from work together when a lorry had passed them at Belmont. They liad followed down the hill and, going up the other side, both hung on to the lorry for a tow. They were on the left-hand side with witness at the rear. “When we reached Clifton Road at the top of the hill, I let go and thought that Budge did the same,” continued Wareham. “I looked away for a minute and then my attention was attracted by a crash as if Budge’s bicycle had fallen. Budge was lying on the road unconscious and bleeding from the left ear.” Witness was of'the opinion that the driver of the lorry did not know that the cyclists were there. Budge was a careful man on his bicycle and, as far as witness knew, his machine was in good order. The road was dry and the lorry travelling at from 12 to 15 miles an hour. Budge was a married man with one child. The inquest was adjourned.