8/3079 Private Andrew Donald Stewart, MM, (10/7/1877-26/1/1946). "invisible to the driver"

INQUEST CONCLUDED

ELDERLY MAN’S DEATH 

The inquest was concluded yesterday into the death of Andrew Donald Stewart, aged about 70 years, who died on January 26 as the result of being run over by a corporation bus on the Dunedin-Waitati main highway. Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., sat as coroner. Mr A. N. Haggitt appeared for the driver of the bus, and the police were represented by Sergeant A. Stark. 

Dr E. R. Harty said the deceased’s head had been badly crushed. The injuries were consistent with his having been run over by a heavy bus. 

Harold Mowat Paterson, a motorman and spare bus driver employed by the Dunedin City Corporation, said that about 10.35 a.m. on January 26 he was driving a corporation bus back from Waitati with a party of Y.M.C.A. boys. The deceased was also a passenger. The bus, which was in need of water, stopped on the highway approaching Mount Cargill. Witness, who intended to reverse the bus down the slope to obtain some water, warned the boys to keep clear, and he was not aware that there was anyone behind the bus. In the driver’s seat he had a clear view of the road, except for a blind spot immediately behind the bus. He was not aware that the deceased was deaf. He released the brake and the bus began to move backwards down the grade. He did not sound the horn because he considered that everything was clear behind the bus. Just after the bus had started to move he felt a bump, and one of the boys called out that the bus had run over a man. He immediately stopped in a distance of about a foot to 18 inches. Witness added that from the time he walked past the back of the bus to the time he took his seat preparatory to putting the bus in motion was not more than two minutes. 

Cyril John Darracott said he had known the deceased for the past 20 years as handyman about the Y.M.C.A., and for some time prior to his death his deafness had been becoming more pronounced. He was also slow of movement. Witness was travelling in the bus at the time, and had observed the deceased at the rear right-hand corner of the bus leaning with his back against the bodywork. As soon as he noticed the bus starting to move, witness called out to the deceased, who did not appear to hear. 

Constable G. Claridge produced a plan which showed that any person of the deceased’s height standing at the rear right-hand side of the bus would be invisible to the driver. 

The accident was most unfortunate, said the coroner, who returned a verdict that death was due to injuries received when the deceased was run over by a bus on Mount Cargill on January 26.  -Otago Daily Times, 19/2/1946.

Run over by a reversing bus was an ignominious end for a decorated soldier.  I have not been able to find details of Andrew Stewart's Military Medal.