ELTHAM CYCLE FATALITY

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1930, Page 10

ELTHAM CYCLE FATALITY

INQUIRY INTO J. L. LEHRKE’S END

DEATH FOLLOWS BRAIN INJURY.

The inquest into the death of Jacob Felix Lehrke, the 'victim of a motorcycle accident on May 25, was resumed at Eltham yesterday before Mr. W. L. Kennedy, district coroner. Mr. P. O’Dea appeared on behalf of the Lehrke family and Mr. A. Chrystal represented' G. A. Anderson, who was injured in the collision. The coroner, after hearing the evidence, returned a verdict that Lehrke died from coma following injuries to the brain-as the result of his motorcycle colliding with one ridden by George Alexander Anderson on the night of May 25. AnJ Arson, a farmer of Ngaere, said that at 10.15 p.m. on May 25 h ® left Eltham on a motor-cycle for his homeHe. lit his. acetylene lamp before starting and recollected, parsing Dr. Saunders’' place but he did hot remember anything after that until he recovered consciousness at the Hawera hospital. His machine was in good running order. Nothing had come to his mind since to enable him to tell how the accident happened. He did not take liquor. He regarded the corner where the accident happened as a dangerous one owing to the light shining in. the face of one goinwout of Eltham, but- he had. found, no difficulty coming from Stratford. His injuries were fractures of two bones in his right leg, hie right hand, two ribs and three teeth broken. To Mr. O’Dea he said his speed would not be more than about 20 or 25 miles an hour. He usually braked, before getting to the corner and released the brake as he swung round the corner. He would theh.be going'at a slow speed. Dr. Douglas Jf. Saunders-stated/that when he reached the scene Lehrke was dead. The injuries were abrasions oyer the right cheek , bone, deep scraping abrasion on . the upper .surface of the left foot and ankle, abrasions on inner side of left knee, outer side of right knee, and right, shin bone, both-bones, being’, broken. There, were further abrasions- on: the -right arm below'the elbow .and .on. the back of ..the right hand. Inside the mouth there was blood at. the back of the nose and throat indicating fracture of the base of the skull. The. cause of death was coma following injuries to- the. brain. Anderson was suffering from the effects of concussion of the brain and severe shock. - He was in- a semi-con-scious condition.. Anderson’s lack of memory of incidents prior to the accident, would be due to the yells of the brain being destroyed as far as their functioning; ; was: concerned. The fracture of the ' base of Lehrke fl. skull would- be accounted for by a {blow on the head, -the abrasions on the right cheek bone indicating this. It could have been, caused by the body being thrown. head first into the clay bank at the side of the{ road. There were- no scraping/ abrasions pp Anderson to indicate. that he had slid along the road.

Ronald Sydney Herdman, farmer, Ta.riki, said he found Anderson lying on top of a motorcycle -in the middle of ihb roadway. He was groaning and was only eemi-consciqus. Lehrke was several yards away.- 1-ehrke's machine was well.on its correct side. The lamp op Anderson’s cycle, felt hot, but Herdmap did not notice any fimpll of escaping carbide. He did not feel the lamp on. Lehrke’s machine. ; :. Constable F. H- Townsend said jjiat about 10.50 p.m. he was called to the scene of' the collision, ■ where he found Dr. Saunders attending Anderson. Lehrke. was dead, his cycle facing the bank with the rear wheel on the edge of the tar. The constable said the front wheel of Ander?un> cycle was buckled and the frbpt forks were broken, showing that practically, a head-on collision had/taken place.. It was 21ft. Bin. from the back wheel of Anderson’s cycle to the back wheel of Lehrke’s. The.right hand front rest of Lehrke’s machine was torn off. There was'a skid mark for 13ft. Bin. back towards Anderson’s cycle. There were no other marks. The right foot , rest of Lehrke’s machine , evidently struck the front wheel of Anderson’s machine. ! Each ,was on its correct side' but there was nothing to show the exaet point of impact. The’ constable examined both lamps and found them apparently in good order, {having carbide in them and the water was turned on, but there was a certain smell of carbide, in both. There was an electric light on a pole 4T yards from the scene "towards Eltham' It was in a slight hollow. On the north side a shade prevented- a dazzle to those' coming towards Eltham.