COLLISION ENDS IN DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1929, Page 12

COLLISION ENDS IN DEATH

INQUEST OX THOMAS NEIGHBOUR.

Death from toxaemia and shock following injuries sustained when his motor-cycle collided with a car driven by Frank Ernest Frost in Dawson Street, New Plymouth, on July 6, was the verdict of the district coroner, Air. R. W. Tate, S.M., at tho inquest into tho circumstances of tho death of Thomas Neighbour, held at New Plymouth yesterday. Senior-Sergeant McCrorie conducted the proceedings for the police. Thomas Frederick Charles Neighbour said he was riding homo up Dawson Street at about 10 p.m. with his father oh tho back of his machine. When approaching Bultcel Street he saw a motoicar coming out on to Dawson Street. He manoeuvred to get past and to allow tho car to pass, but a collision took place. Ho was thrown off, and when he got up he saw that the car had como to rest on his father’s chest. He called out for the driver of the car to back. His. father was very dazed and ho was removed to the hospital. The lights and brakes on tho cyclo were in good order. Dr. Clarke, medical superintendent of the hospital, deposed to the admittance of Mr. Neighbour to the hospital, and he described tho injuries received. The patient became worse on the Monday morning and collapsed and died a little after noon. Tho immediate cause of death was toxaemia and shock from injuries and inflammation arising. therefrom. A post mortem examination showed a slightly diseased condition of tho heart, but the other organs were quite healthy. Frank Ernest Frost, the driver of the motor-car, said ho was driving at about ten miles an hour, on his correct side of the road. His lights an.l brakes were in good order. He d.id not see the cycle till the collision took place. It was a dirtv, moist night. When he struck the cycle he heard young Neighbour call out to him to back his car, and when he got out he saw a man lying on the road injured. He had once before knocked a boy down with his car, but ho considered he was a careful driver. A passenger in Frost’s car, Muriel 11. Trcweek, said the car was driven along Bultcel Street on the correct side of the road and was travelling slowly. She did not see Neighbour’s motor-cycle until it was a foot away from tho headlights. The car was over tho centre lino of Dawson Street when tho cycle coljlided with the front of it. When she stepped out she found Neighbour with the left front wheel of tho car over him, while the cycle was under tho car. The car did not have to check its speed when it was approaching Dawson Street as it was going so slowly there was no need. Oswald E. Flyger, who drove down Standish Hill immediately after the accident, described the position of Neighbour's’ body and Frost’s car.