FATAL ACCIDENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16846, 23 September 1922, Page 9

FATAL ACCIDENT.

CARTER FALLS OFF DRAY. The fatal accident which happened yesterday afternoon to Hugh Macfarlane, a carter employed by the Christchurch Tramway Board, was the subject of an inquest this morning before the Coroner, Mr H. Y. Widdowson. Deceased was a married man, thirty-eight years of age. He leaves a wife and six children. William Macfarlane, motor driver, brother of deceased, gave evidence of identification. He said that deceased was a strong man in good health. Thomas Taylor, a gasworks employee, deposed that deceased was loading coke before the accident occurred. W itness saw deceased fall off the dray alter it was fully loaded. He fell in front of the wheel, which passed over his body. Medical assistance was quickly obtained. The horse had not been frightened in any way. in reply to Mr H. T. Armstrong, who represented the Tramway Employees Union, witness said ho did not know whether deceased had properly got his seat on the top of the dray before he fell. The horse had proceeded about ten yards. Witness said further that the dray had to cross the railway siding lines, which caused it to oscillate ablyl>r A. J. Orchard gave evidence to the effect that an examination of the body showed a mark across the upper part of the abdomen such as might have been produced by a cart wheel. There was a bruise on the ijgjht forehead. The abdomen seemed distended in such n way as might be attributed to n large infusion of blood. Witness concluded that Macfarlane was dying of internal hemorrhage and shock. W itness understood that lie died before reaching hospital. Death was due to si lock and internal hemorrhage resulting from injuries received. Mr E. Turner, engineer to the Tramway Board, said that the dray was a large spring dray. The whole load would weigh about a ton and a half. William Kileen, gasworks employee, gave evidence. Mr Armstrong said that there was a coal chute at the yards which made considerable noise when it was going. He asked witness whether it was going and whether it had scared the horseWitness said that the chute was not working at the time. Edgar I*. Turner, engineer to the Tramway Board, said that deceased had been in tlie board’s service for four or five years. He was an intelligent, capable man. Witness never had n complaint about him. The horse was a quiet one and the board liad had it lor some years. It was used to going about the construction works. There had been no complaints about the dray, which had been driven by deceased for a long time. It was left to the carter’s discretion bow high he should load the dray. Mr Armstrong said that the step had been broken off the dray in questionHe thought that it would be a good thing if the bv-law in this conuet •. > • was made more strict. The Coroner : There is no doubt about that. I think all these spring drays should have steps. Mr Turner reiterated that no comnlaints had been made about the drayHe would see that the dray was provided with a step. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned. The Magistrate expressed his sympathy through the brother with deceased’s wife and children.