13453 Trooper John Benjamin Munro, (1915-14/12/1952). "the car went down the bank"

CRUSHED UNDER CAR

MAN AND YOUTH DIE FROM INJURIES

DRIVERLESS VEHICLE FALLS OVER BANK

(New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, December 14. 

Two persons were killed when a driverless car rolled over a 20ft bank on to a group of people on the Mitchell’s Bay beach at Riverton Rocks this afternoon. They were

Laurence Allan McLachlan, aged 16, of Nightcaps; and 

John Munro, aged 38, also of Nightcaps.

Laurence McLachlan was killed almost instantly. Mr Munro was seriously injured, and died in the Southland Hospital at 8 p.m. today. 

The two victims were sitting on the beach with the youth’s father, Mr Hendry McLachlan, and another Nightcaps man, Mr J. D. Aitken, when the car came over the bank on top of them. Mr McLachlan and Mr Aitken jumped clear before the car fell. 

The car had been parked outside a general store. The driver, Mr J. Ronald, of Thornbury, and his passenger, Mr N. Jenkins, also of Thornbury, had entered the shop. The car began to move, and travelled across the road. It was seen by a youth, Gerald Brand. He attempted to stop the car from going over the bank, but was unable to hold it. 

The car went down the bank front first, and came to rest against some rocks. It was not badly damaged, and came to rest on its wheels.

An inquest into the death of Laurence McLachlan was opened before the District Coroner (Mr. C. G. G. Sinclair) in Riverton this evening. It was adjourned after evidence of identification had been given.  -Press, 15/12/1952.

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

JURY FINDS YOUTH NOT GUILTY

(New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, May 20. 

James William Ronald, aged 17 1/2, a farm-labourer, of Thornbury, was found not guilty of manslaughter by a jury in the Invercargill Supreme Court today. Ronald was discharged by Mr Justice North. The jury added a rider that the place where Ronald stopped his car was a no-park area, which gave cars the right to stop for a few minutes. The jury said that parking should be prohibited altogether on the area in front of Gerken’s store, Riverton Rocks. 

The charge arose from an accident at Riverton Rocks on December 14, when an empty car ran over a bank and killed John Benjamin Munro, aged 37, of Nightcaps, and Laurence Allan McLachlan, aged 16, also of Nightcaps.  -Press, 21/5/1953.

Wairio Cemetery.