FATAL ROAD RACE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 986, 31 May 1930, Page 6

FATAL ROAD RACE

COMPETING RIDERS MET IN COLLISION CORONER STRESSES DANGER “What happened in this case is liable to occur, and two sets of races should not be permitted on the same road at the same time,” decided Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., returning a verdict of accidental death at an inquest held yesterday into the death of Laurence Cooper Aldred. aged 19, a cyclist who was killed on April 26. Deceased was killed as the result of a collision between riders of the Manukau and Auckland Cycle Clubs at Mangere on April 26. lie was competing in the Alanukau Club’s race. The coroner found that Laurence Cooper Aldred died at Auckland on April 26, the cause of his death being a fractured skull and brain injury, due to an accidental collision between the deceased and another cyclist while they were taking part in cycle races. Two road cycle races were being held on the same day over road courses which used the same road on part of the way. The courses used involved the riders in the respective races passing one another in an opposite direction on the part of the road which was common to both courses. “Races have been so held for many years without serious accident, but it so happened on this occasion that the riders passed one another just at the finishing post for one of the races. The fact that the riders in the race that was finishing were then riding under extreme tension, together with the fact that part of the roadway was occupied by spectators and motorcars, resulted in the accident taking place LIABLE TO OCCUR “Although road cycle races have been held for many years in which those taking part in the race have safely passed one another on the road which was common to both courses, what happened in this case is liable to occur, and two sets of races should not be permitted on the same road at the same time. James Tryson, who saw the collision, said the Manukau riders appeared to be taking up most of the tar-sealed portion of the road, as they raced for the finishing line. Apart from the first two or three of the Auckland Club riders, who passed without mishap, all riders met in head-on collision. Each set of riders was travelling at 27 miles an hour, in witness’s opinion. SPECTATORS KEPT 3ACK In reply to Mr. Spring, who represented deceased’s mother, witness said the spectators were kept back off the tar-sealed portion of the road. There would have been room for the cyclists to pass one another if motor-cars had not taken up the part of the road other than the tar-sealed part. The position of the cars was one of the causes of the accident. The secretary of the Auckland Club. Horace William Tonkin, said his club had been using the same circuit for five years. On April 26 witness had been the starter. To Mr. Spring witness replied that the club officials knew the Manukau Club was using the same circuit. The same procedure had" been adopted every week for six months each year. It was not considered that this was dangerous. Riders were always requested to keep to their own side of the road and, if they met a bunch of ether riders, to fall into twos. There was always some danger in such sports, and having two lots of riders made it more dangerous. Six years ago the club applied to the Manukau County Council for leave to conduct the races, continued witness. Leave was not obtained, but the club was informed that no notice would be taken so long as the racing was well conducted. The council did not exercise any supervision on the racing. “ALREADY PASSED” Enoch L. Wilson, secretary of the Manukau Club, did not consider that the cars and spectators actually constituted a danger, as some of the riders had already passed. Another witness refuted the secretary’s contention that the cars and spectators did not constitute a danger. They had hindered the passing of the riders, he considered. Colin Yule, a rider for the Auckland Club, said he had been unable to pass the sprinting Manukau riders on account of the cars and spectators at the side of the road. Mr. Cutten’s verdict was delivered in accordance with the medical evidence.