COLLIDED WITH TRAM-CAR

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1930, Page 15

COLLIDED WITH TRAM-CAR

DEATH OF MAORI MOTOR-CYCLIST. ACCIDENT ON THE SOUTH ROAD. A verdict that the death of Tamaono Tuteuruoho on April 26 was due to injuries to the brain received when he collided with a train on the South Road, was returned by the district coroner, Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., in New Plymouth yesterday. He found no blame attach-, able to anyone. Tuteuruoho was 43 years of age and lived at Okato. About 7-15 p.m. said Jens K. M. Jensen, motor-car painter, he was riding his motor-cycle on the South Road towards the Breakwater. Near Bonithon Avenue a motor-cyclist passed, riding in the middle of the tramline between 30 and 40 miles an hour. .He watched the progress of the cycle. As it neared Kingswell Street a tram approached from the Breakwater. He saw the collision between the cyclist and the tram on the western side of Kingswell Street. ■ When he arrived on' the scene he had: to go oh to the footpath to avoid the smashed cycle, which lay between the tram and the side of the road. He had noticed the train approaching quite plainly soon after the injured cyclist passed him. The speed of the cyclist was unsafe at that time of the night. Io Mr. F. T. Bellringer, who watched the interests of the Borough Council and the ihotormaii concerned: He did not hear the tram gong sounded before the collision occurred. Richard C. Alsop, tramway motorman, said that as he was approaching Kingswell Street he saw two motor-cycles coming from town. One was on its proper side, while the other seemed to be on the north-side tramline. The gong was sounded repeatedly, but the cyclists did not appear to take any notice.' Tahiaono’s cycle, when only a short' distance away, crossed to the southern side. Just as Tamaono was passing the corner of the tram, the upper part of his body struck and broke the handrail. The step of the tram was slightly splintered. On going back after stopping the tram, the -motorman found the Maori lying on his back on the edge of the tar-seal,' with the motor-cycle across him. He had severe injuries to his head. The ambulance and police were sent for. To Sergeant McGregor: The tram was fully lighted, inside and outside, and the road was well lit. The coroner: Were you able to estimate the speed of the cycle? Alsop: I should say 'between 35 and 40 miles an hour. Visibility was fairly good and there was no other traffic on the road. he. said. Mr. Bellringer: What did you do when you saw an accident was -likely to occur? Alsop: I slowed down the tram and sounded the gong. 1 applied the emergency brake when the Maori commented to cross over, five or six paces away. He seemed, in my judgment, to straighten up his cycle too soon, so I applied the brake. The coroner: If he had crossed over properly, was there room for him to pass on his correct side of the tram? Alsop: Yes, any amount. Dr. G. O. L. Dempster, house physician at the New Plymouth hospital, said the Maori was admitted early in the evening of April 26. He was dead when the body was examined in the ambulance at the front door of the hospital. There was a lacerated wound on the ■back of the right foot and a small one on -the right hand index linger. Injuries to the head pointed to a fracture of the base of the skull. Death was due to laceration of and haemorrhage into the brain substance. ,