FATAL CAR SMASH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 303, 23 December 1933, Page 8

FATAL CAR SMASH

VERDICT AT THE INQUEST [ Ter Press Association. I CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 21. Tho fatal car smash at Corsair Bay on December 3, when Airs. Jessie Harris, aged 30, was killed and George Stunt, aged eight years, and Kevin Slant were seriously injured, was investigated by Air. Alosley, S.M., at the inquest this morning. Tho ear plunged two hundred feci ever a cliff fru’.u the road above Jn* bay. The driv.r was D. Ludccke, «t factory overseer. Oliver Shuknr, an eye-witness, said that tho car was pulled up at first and then went slowly backwards off tho road on to a level bank at the edge of the cliff. The car stopped for six seconds near a wire fence. The woman and two boys made to gut out when suddenly thc ear went backwards at at least ten miles an hour and crashed through the fence and over tho cliff. It appeared to witness as it' the driver had made a mistake in putting his foot on the accelerator instead of the clutch. There was no reason why the car should have gone over thc cliff. David Ludccke, driver, gave evidence that the car was running perfectly on tho trip from Governor’s Bay to Lyttelton. At Rocky Point, ho decided to park the car, intending to go down to thc beach. After turning the corner ho stopped to sec if everything wa s clear. He put the car in reverse and backed towards the fence without any trouble. When he put on tho brake, however, the car did not stop save for half a second and went over tho bank. It seemed to gather speed as it went downhill. Witness could not account for Ihe accident. Witness had not a driver’s license and hnd not driven much previously, though ho had had driving lessons. A verdict, of accidental death was returned.