FATAL MOTOR ACCIDENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18833, 23 March 1931, Page 7

FATAL MOTOR ACCIDENT.

DEATH OF MR W. T. D. REVELL, INQUEST OPENED YESTERDAY. An inquest concerning the death of William Thomas Denis Revell, who died on Friday night as a result of injuries and shock received when he was run over by a motor-car at the intersection of Stafford Street South and North Street on Monday morning last, was opened yesterday morning at Timaru Courthouse, before Mr A. L. Gee, J.P (Coroner) and a jury comprising Messrs M. Little, J. O’Leary, H. L. Butler, and A. Lindsay. Mr F. J. Rolleston appeared for the relatives of deceased, and Sergeant Gilligan conducted proceedings for the police. Prior to Opening the inquiry, the Coroner said that the late Mr Revell had been highly regarded by all sections of the community, and by his death, Timaru had lost a very valuable citizen. Harold Tutton Thompson, stock buyer, of Methven, gave evidence of identification. Deceased, who was 53 years of age, had been in excellent health before the accident, and his sight and hearing were first class. In reply to Mr Rolleston, witness said that the late Mr Revell was a man of sound judgment, and was at all times calm and collected. He was not of a nervous disposition. He had driven a car for some ten or twelve years, and had never had an accident. Mr Rolleston: “I take it that deceased knew the rules of the road?— “Absolutely.’ “Was he always careful and observant?”—“Yes.” Medical evidenoe was given by Dr. O. S. Fraser, who said he was called to •lister McArthur’s private hospital on Monday morning last. He examined a wound in deceased’s leg with a view to ascertaining whether there was any active haemorrhage. At mid-day an anaesthetic was administered by Dr. R. D. King, and witness removed deceased’s clothes and attended to his injuries, which comprised a compound fracture of the right femur about the middle of the shaft, with extensive laceration of the muscles on the lateral aspect of the leg. A wound in the skin was about three inches long. There was a punctured wound also on the back of the left elbow joint, a lacerated wound on the right upper eyelid, abrasions on the forehead, and bruising of the right elbow. There was no evidence of abdominal or chest injuries, or injury to the brain or spinal cord. The patient was returned to his bed from the operating theatre at 2 p.m., with the injured leg in a Thomas’s splint. His condition was fair. During the evening he was sick after coming out of the anaesthetic. He did not complain on Tuesday, and his condition was again fair. That evening, however, he began to vomit, and was in a low condition On Wednesday, continued witness, the patient was in a very low condition. He was at that time suffering from shock. The following day there was some improvement, and up till noon he was able to take and absorb a little nourishment. The patient had a small patch of pneumonia present on that day. During Thursday night deceased was again vomiting, and on the Friday his condition showed Improvement. Deceased did not complain of pain, was not sick, and took nourishment. Witness changed the patient's splints, and considered that there was an improvement in his condition. At about 4 p.m. on Fridaydeceased began to vomit. He was restless, his pulse was weaker, and his breathing was bad. By 6 p.m. deceased was worse. His heart became more feeble, and he died at about 11.30 p.m. Dr. Bums saw deceased, in consultation, about 9 p.m., but he was already moribund.

Sergeant Gilligan “The injuries would be consistent with a motor-car accident?”—“Yes.”

“In your opinion what was the cause of death?”—“Heart failure, following delayed shock caused by an accident.” In reply to Sergeant Gilligan, witness said that the wounds were all healing, and were not septic. Mr Rolleston: “Were the injuries consistent with deceased having been dragged at all?”—“There, was no trace of tearing on the clothes. The injuries were not consistent with deceased having been dragged very far.” “Would you say he had not been dragged?”—“No, I could not. The Btate of deceased’s clothes was pretty good.”

“Was deceased conscious While in hospital?”—“All the time. He did not lose consciousness after the accident.”

At this stage Mr -Gee said that the police had further evidence to call, and the inquest was adjourned till Thursday, March 26th, at 11.45 a.m.