FIRE-ENGINE SMASH

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14584, 5 February 1921, Page 6

FIRE-ENGINE SMASH

INQUEST OPENB. POSITION OF THE VEHICLES. FORCED IN WATERTABLE. »'he official enquiry into tho cause 0' the death of Fireman George Prince, 'aged 69, and Albert Graham, aged 24, victims of the fire-engine smash at Hamilton on January 19, was opened before the District Coroner. Mr H. A. Young, 5.M., at the Hamilton Courthouse yesterday afternoon and adjourned. Senior-Sergeant Till represented the police, Mr C. L. Mac Diarmid (lie Hamilton Fire Board, while Mr E. H Northeroft watched Hie proceedings on behalf of Lawless, the driver of the lorry descending the hill when the accident happened. Dr. Henry Mayall Budd, of the Waikato Hospital, said that when Albert Graham was brought lo the institution be was dead. He examined the body, M;d found superficial abrasions on both aims and legs, lacerations to the back o l ' the head, and a large depressed fracture of the skull in the region of the torriple. He thought the cause of death v.as the fracture of the skull. Witness also examined George Princo a few minutes later. Prince was alive, but was suffering considerably from shock. There was a compound fracture of the right leg, which was badly crushed and almost severed at the knee. The .joint, was laid open, ski.i was torn off the lower part of the thigh, and considerable hemorrhage had taken place from his wounds. There were superficial abrasions on the right arm and scalp. Three-quarters of an hour after admission lie was given an anaesthetic and his leg was amputated the knee. All precautions were taken to minimise the results of the shock, but about a quarter of an hour later he began to sink and died shortly afterwards. Death was due lo the great shock and hemorrhage. Constable Claasen, who visited the srene of the. accident the following morning, said the engine ran along in the watertable on the rigiit side of the read before starting to climb the hank, whioh it mounted diagonally for a distance of six feet and to a vertical height of over five feet. The momentum apparently caused the vehicle to I urn a complete somersault, and to travel, from the point where it capsized to the point where it became stationary, a distance of 29 feet. Tho r- ad narrowed down from 33ft at the tip of the hill lo 25ft at the point vv'e.crc the engine stopped. The engine was 6ft 9in wide ami 18ft long. The lorry driven by Lawless was Oft siu wide. Replying to Mr Northeroft, witness said that about 5.30, shortly after the a- cident, Lawless called at the police station and made a statement. He was then perfectly sober. The point where the engine passed Lawless was h? feet back from where the engine became stationary. The engine commenced to run into the watertable 72 feet back from the point where it passe.l Lawless. Here the road was 27 feet wide. Indications led to the supposition that the engine was going at a Molent speed when she started to climb the bank. in answer to Mr Mac Diarmid, witness said that a width of from a foot to 18 inches would have to be allowed a: the width of the watertable at the pcint where the engine passed Lawless' lorry. Wilfred French Turkey, who drove the engine, said the vehicle left Hi i boundary road fire at about •"> p.m., his instructions being to proceed to ,i fire in Victoria street, which was burning fiercely. He drove the engine along Grey street at 35 inil°s or more per hour, slackening d.own near the racecourse gates to approximately 25 miles. As he approached the top of the hill the pace was about 30 miles. He was driving on the left centre of the road. The horn, which was extra loud, was eounded continuously along the whole journey. He,passed several vehicles, which pulled over to their left on the brow of the hill as he approached. As re commenced to descend, lie saw a lorry about half-way down. This was the' only .vehicle on the downward slope. He kept Hie engine in check to about the same speed, by releasing the II rottle and by applying the foot-brake. The vehicle in front was slightly towards the right. Expecting the driver to pull over, witness steered towards the right to pass him. As witness overtook tiie lorry he could sec there was room to pass, but not more than room, but the man in front suddenly diverted his course towards the right, forcing witness to run into the watertable. There were not more than three inches betwen the two vehicles as he passed. Immediately the front of tho engine passed the lorry he found that the front wheels were gripping the water channel, and he was unable to pull clear on to the road again before reaching (he point where the engine commenced to mount the bank. This point protruded somewhat into the read.' He hung on to the steering wheel until the engine capsized. Me was then pitched on to the road and tin- engine passed over him, eventually righting itself, lie got up and stopped the motor, which was slill running. The engine was standing right side up, bid almost diagonally across the centre Of Ihc road. In answer to Mr Mac Diarmid, witness said Ilia I none of (lie firemen r< ceived any refreshment at the scene 1 v' the first tiro. The engine was in perfect order and the brakes properly adjusted. The horn was a large and particularly loud one, but the siren, which was in order going to Boundary road, was out of order on the return. Kc had the engine under complete control until the time he was compelled t" run into the watertable. He was almost on lop of Lawless when the latter diverted his course to the right. The horn was sounded loudly up to trial point. If the lorry had remained where it was he could have got past. It was undoubtedly Ihe diversion that forced him into the watertable. lie had every reason lo believe (hat the driver of the lorry must have heard the horn from the time the engine readied the brow of the hill. Replying lo Mr Northeroft, witness said there was no speedometer on the e.'.gine, and the speeds he had given were merely estimates. Gonsislent Willi salety the speed going to a fir: did not matter. The siren, which was cut of order, was well known to users cf the road, lie felt quite justified in continuing his pace as he approached the lorry, for he fully expected the driver of the lorry to pull over to his right side, as every other vehicle along the route had done so. It was not a f:ict Ihaf the engine was running in the watertable 72 feet before reaching Lawless. He did not enter the watertable until 10 or 12 feet at the outside from Lawless. At this point of the cross-examination witness showed sign.; of physical distress, and water had to b-- procured for him. The inquest was at this point adjourned.