DEATH OF A GIRL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 234, 2 October 1929, Page 8

DEATH OF A GIRL

MOTOR-CYCLE FATALITY CORONER’S VERDICT. A verdict, death ■ from injuries accidentally sustained was returned by the coroner Mr J. H. {Salmon S.M, at the conclusion of the enquiry into the circumstances of the death of Mavis Irene Mitchell who was thrown from an overturning motor-cycle at the corner of Selwyn Crescent and Grey Street on Sunday evening. Evidence was given by Robert Leith Begg that, at about 5.3 u p.m. on Sunday, he was driving his car along Grey Street. On reaching the intersection with Selwyn Crescent he noticed a motor-car coming around the Crescent into Grey Street followed by a motorcycle with side-car attached. The cyclist appeared to think there would be a collision and turned his machine too quickly, as a result of which it capsized. Witness considered that, if the cyclist had gone on along Selwyn Crescent, there would have been no accident. The medical superintendent, Dr Nelson stated that the deceased died as a result of a fracture of the skull. The verdict of the coroner was that the deceased died at the Wanganui Public Hospital about 6 p.m. on September 29, tlie cause of death being a fracture of the skull. The injury was accidentally sustained by the girl being thrown from the side-car of the motorcycle, driven by her father, at the corner of Grey Street and Selwyn Crescent at about 5.45 p.m. The evidence disclosed no negligence on the part of the father of the deceased but that he acted from excess of caution, and turned his cycle too suddenly, with the result it was overturned. The evidence also showed that no blame could be attached to tho driver of the approaching motor-car, Mr Begg, who was some considerable distance away and there was no prospect of a collision at the time.