MOTORING FATALITY.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18877, 22 February 1933, Page 3

MOTORING FATALITY.

INQUEST AT MATAMATA

j VERDICT OF MISADVENTURE. The adjourned inquest regarding the death of Hazel Dorothy Tyrrell, j who was killed in a motor collision on the Matamata-Hinucra road on the night of December 24, 1932, was resumed at Matamata on Tuesday, before Mr A. J. Tong, District Coroner. Maurice Edward Pulman, butcher, Tirau, 18 years of age, stated that on the night of December 24 he was | driving & motor lorry from Tirau to Matamata at about 11.30 o’clock. He saw a car approaching from Matamata about half a mile away, which appeared to be travelling in the middle of the road. He pulled to the left when the car was about 200 yards away, and his left-hand wheels were on the grass. He pulled over further because the oncoming car was holding the centre of the road. He was travelling at about 25 miles an hour, and could not judge the speed of the car. He dipped his lights about 50 yards from the point of impaot. As a result of the collision his lorry had suffered considerable damage. After the collision he had continued on and pulled up on the right side of the road. The car was lying across the road, nearer to the left than the right. He had been a licensed driver for four years and was accustomed to the lorry. He had no drink that evening, in his opinion the driver of the car would have had to pull over to avoid a collision. He did not swerve about the time of the impact. He had four lights burning on the lorry, arid they were all still burning after the collision.

Evidence of Driver. Dr. Laurenson gave evidence that when he arrived at the scene of the accident deceased was quite dead. There were two other Injured peoeple, and one of these (Miss Hancock) was taken to hospital. The driver of the car (Mr Ganley) was also in hospital when he arrived there. He smelled no liquor whatever that night on any of the occupants of the car, or on the driver, and there was no suggestion of it.

Laurence -William Ganley, engineer, Auckland, stated that he was spending a holiday at Okoroire, with the Tyrrell family, and on the night of December 24 he drove a party on the return journey from Matamata. There were six in the oar, including deceased, Miss Hancock, and three Tyrrell boys. He •had seen the lights of an approaching motor vehicle. The night was dark and there was a light drizzle, and visibility was only fair. He thought the lights were those of a motor car. He believed his right front wheel may have been slightly over the oentre of the road. The position of the other vehicle appeared to be identical with his. 1-Ie was travelling at about 30 miles an hour, and his right arm was resting on the door at his side. He altered his course enough, as he thought, to pass a motor car. The noxt he remembered was a crash and his right arm was crushed, having to be amputated later. Some oT his party had had a little liquor in Matamata, but ho had none himself. All were sober. He was used to driving in Auckland, and he had mistaken the lorry for a car because it was not usual to meet a lorry on the streets at that hour. He did not swerve, but went over gradually. In his opinion there was ample room to pass a motor car. He only saw two main lights on the other vehicle, but ho could not say definitely on account of the rain on the windscreen.

Verdict of Coroner. Clarence Tyrrell, brother of the deceased, said he was not taking any special notice, but the car appeared to be driven properly and on its correct side. He was quite satisfied that Ganley was a good driver. Herbert Edward Tyrrell gave similar evidence, as did also Joyce Hancock, another occupant o' the car driven by Ganley. Constable Connor, who 'inspected Hic scene of the collision, about 34 miles from Matamata, produced a plan drawn from the measurements taken. The verdict was: "That Hazel Dorothy Tyrrell met her dcatli on December 24, near Matamata, as the result of injuries received in a collision between a car and a motor lorry by misadvanture.”