FOUR KILLED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 752, 4 May 1933, Page 3

FOUR KILLED.

Inquest Concerning Island Bay Smash. DRIVER NOT LICENSED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 3. An inquest was held to-day in connection with the Island Bay tragedy on April 1, as a result of which four lives were lost through a bar driven by Frederick Hooker falling over a 40ft bank. Those killed were; James Henry Wood, and Marjorie, his wife; Olga Beryl Barbedes and Ernest Joseph Dickson. Another occupant, Marjorie Morris, is still in hospital. Dr R. B. Martin said that he was called to the scene of the accident shortly after it occurred. Three were dead on the roadway and Dickson was obviously dying. 'Miss Morris and Hooker were sent to hospital. Hooker was suffering from shock and abrasion. YY itness saw no signs of alcohol on him. Gerald Fitzgerald, a tyre dealer, said that he drove the car with a party of nine to the cabaret. It was a sevensetter tourer with left-hand steering, lent to witness by his father. The party remained at the cabaret until 11.30 p.m. Y\ T hen it was suggested that the3’ should go home, witness brought the car to the main entrance. Frank Hoare, a member of the party, accompanied him. No arrangement had been made to meet the others there. He left the car in low gear and with the brakes on and went with Hoare to get the party tdgether. They passed four members of the party going out. Found Car Gone. Neither witness nor Hoare could find Mr and Mrs YY r ood, and thej’ returned to find the car gone. They walked down the hill, and on not seeing the car decided that the others had left them behind. Then they heard that there had been an accident, and went to investigate. \\ 7 itness said that Hooker told him they had been sitting in the car, and the others had jeered at him to drive. Hooker had asked witness earlier if he could have the car to take some of the girls home, and witness had refused. It was understood that witness was to drive the car home. The brakes were in good condition. He had not inquired if Hooker had a driver’s license, but knew from experience that he was not a good driver. For that reason he had refused to allow him to drive. To counsel: If the car had been driven down hill under compression and with the brakes available there was no reason why it should have got out of control. He had tested it in low gear when bringing it down to the main entrance, and found it perfectly safe. It was never agreed that the party should split up. Hooker expected witness to come out to the car again and drive them home. There was no need for Hooker to take the car down the hill. But for the difficulty experienced by witness in starting the car the whole party would have left together well before midnight. No Liquor. \Y itness said that they had supper at the cabaret. They had no liquor, and no liquor was taken out to the car. Frank Leo Hoare, who, with Fitzgerald. was left behind at the Cabaret when the others departed, said his statement made to the police might not have been wholly true. YY’hen the car left, it was parked facing downhill. Norman Mevers, motor mechanic, said he had driven the car on the hills. The brakes were in good order. The car’s number plates belonged to another. It was not registered for 1933. The inquest was adjourned till tomorrow.