ACCIDENTS
CYCLIST KILLED IN COLLISION
RUN OVER BY MOTOR-CAR
(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, August 30.
A fatal accident occurred at the corner of Jetty and Princes streets early yesterday morning, when a motorcyclist, Mackay Robertson Spence, single, living at Anderson’s Bay, was killed.
Spence was crossing at the intersection and apparently misjudged the distance and grazed the rear of a car which was passing. He was thrown from his cycle, and before he could regain his feet, a second car travelling behind him passed over his body, the wheels going over his neck.
He was immediately removed to hospital, but was dead on arrival. -Press, 31/8/1936.
UNUSUAL ACCIDENT
MOTOR CYCLIST KILLED
CAR WHEELS PASS OVER NECK
INQUEST PROCEEDINGS OPENED
A rather unusual form of accident, which resulted in the death of a motor cyclist, occurred at the corner of Princes and Jetty streets about 2.25 a.m. yesterday. The cyclist, Mackay Robertson Spence, single, aged 32 years, residing with his parents at 24 Oakland street, Anderson’s Bay. was proceeding south along Princes street, and when nearing the Jetty street intersection he apparently misjudged his distance, grazing the rear of a motor car which was travelling over the crossing. He was thrown from the cycle, and before he could regain his feet a second motor car, which was travelling behind him, passed over his body, the wheels going over his neck. He was immediately taken to the hospital, but life was extinct.
An inquest was opened at the morgue this morning before the coroner (Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.).
Detectivesergeant Hall conducted the inquiry on behalf of the police.
Joseph Spence, painter, brother of the deceased, gave evidence of identification.
Eric William Dyer, traveller, residing at Christchurch, said he came from Christchurch to Dunedin with his wife and his brother. His brother stayed at an hotel, and witness and his wife left him there at 2.25 a.m. on Sunday. His wife and he left in a car, which was owned by his brother, and in which they intended to spend the night to save hotel expenses. He drove down Stafford street, across Princes street, intending to go down Jetty street. The car was travelling very slowly, and the head lamps and tail lamp were showing. When the car was almost across the main street, and as witness was about to enter Jetty street he heard a bump, but did not feel a noticeable jar. Mrs Dyer asked him to stop. He was under the impression that it was just a glancing blow, and that the cyclist had ridden on. He said to Mrs Dyer: “Have a look to see if he has fallen off or not.” By this time he had pulled the car up. On going back he saw a motor cycle lying some distance away from the rider in Princes street, near the centre of the road, between the tram lines and the footpath. The cycle was lying practically in Jetty street. A constable was on the scene when witness went back to where the body was lying. Witness had driven a car for six years. The car was damaged. The cycle would have missed the car had it been 2ft farther out. He did not see the cycle approaching from the left as he was crossing Princes street. Kathleen Dyer, wife of the previous witness, gave evidence along similar lines.
The Coroner ordered a post mortem examination of the body and adjourned the inquiry sine die. -Evening Star, 31/8/1936.
UNUSUAL FATALITY
TWO GARS INVOLVED IHQUEST PROCEEDINGS CONCLUDED
A fatality that presented unusual features and involved the death of a motor cyclist at the corner of Princes and Jetty streets about 2.25 on the morning of August 30 was the subject of an inquest concluded before Mr J. R Bartholomew. S.M., this morning.
The cyclist, Mackay Robertson Spence, single, aged 32 years, residing at 24 Oakland street, Anderson’s Bay, was proceeding south along Princes street, and when nearing the Jetty street intersection he grazed the rear of a motor car which was travelling over the crossing. He was thrown from the cycle, and before he could regain his feet a second motor car, which was travelling behind him, passed over his body.
The evidence of Eric William Dyer, of Christchurch, the driver of the car that was involved in the collision with the motor cyclist, was taken when the Inquest was opened.
Sergeant Boulton represented the police, Mr E. J. Anderson appeared for Albert Leonard Lamb (a taxi driver), and Mr C. A. Hamer for the relatives of the deceased.
Dr E. E. D’Ath, pathologist, detailed the results of a post mortem he had made on the body of the deceased, and stated he was of the opinion that he had died from internal haemorrhage, the result of extensive injuries to the organs of the abdomen and chest caused by some heavy object passing across the body in the region of the lower part of the chest and the upper abdomen.
To Mr Hamer, Dr D’Ath said that slight injuries to deceased’s head were consistent with a fall on the roadway, and possibly might have had the effect of stunning him, irrespective of whether he had had liquor or not.
Replying to a further question, witness said there were two distinct sets of injuries. Those about the face and head could scarcely have been caused at the same time as the injuries to the internal organs. When the injuries to the chest and abdomen took place deceased must have been lying on his back. The state of his head and face suggested that Spence was probably thrown on his head and then landed on his face. For that reason he concluded there were two separate sets of injuries.
Harry Child, residing at 99 Tainui road, said he had known Spence for some six or seven years, and had accompanied him to Carisbrook on the afternoon of his death. After having two glasses of beer at witness’s home, deceased left about 5 p.m. to go home, and later accompanied witness to the pictures. Spence finally departed for his home at 11.55 p.m. on his motor cycle, which he was perfectly fit to ride, being quite sober. It was not till the following day she learnt that Spence had been killed, and he could offer no explanation why he should have again visited the city after leaving witness’s home.
Andrew Clifford Brown, a motor cycle dealer, detailed an examination he had made of the machine following the fatality.
Albert Leonard Lamb, a taxi driver, said he was driving a passenger to South Dunedin. He saw no object lying on the ground at the intersection of Princes, Jetty and Stafford streets, neither did he see the constable, who was stated to have signalled witness to stop. When at the intersection of Jetty and Princes streets, he felt a bump such as one felt when driving over a hole in the street. He formed the opinion that it was the front near wheel which had passed over the object. His passenger mentioned something about the bump, and witness slackened down and returned to the intersection, where he discovered a man lying on the road. He appeared to be unconscious, and a constable was in attendance. “I am definite I was driving carefully and keeping a good lookout, giving the road in front special attention,” added witness, who added that when the street surface was wet at night it was most difficult to pick up an object lying on the street. During the 24 hours previous to the accident he had no liquor whatever.
To Mr Hamer, witness said that directly the bump was experienced he mentioned the fact to 'his passenger, and they both looked back. The headlights were full on, and could easily throw a beam of 100 ft. At the time the bump was felt it was raining. Witness was positive that his speed was between 20 and 25 miles per hour. At the time of the accident he had been 13 hours on duty, but did not feel tired.
“It was very hard to pick out an object,” said witness to Mr Anderson. The deceased was wearing a dark overcoat and motor cycle leggings.
Edward Heeney, a barman at the Prince of Wales Hotel, a passenger in the taxi, said that at the time the bump was felt the car was being driven at a reasonable speed of approximately 20 to 25 miles per hour, and the driver was exercising proper care and keeping a careful look-out. Witness saw no object lying on the road, neither did he see the first car or the motor cycle.
“Under the prevailing conditions it was no time for speed,” said witness to Mr Anderson.
Constable T. Drayton said that about 2.30 on the morning of the fatality he was standing in a position that commanded a view of the intersections of Stafford and Jetty streets with Princes street. His attention was attracted to a motor cyclist proceeding south along Princes street at a speed he estimated at 40 miles per hour. Then he observed a motor car proceeding from Stafford street into Jetty street and saw the cycle strike it. The rider of the machine was thrown clear of the ground, and witness immediately went across to the scene of the accident. As he did so he saw a taxi proceeding towards the intersection. “I flashed my torch several times towards the oncoming car, but failed to attract the driver’s attention, with the result that the near wheels of the car passed over the motor cyclist’s body,’’ said the constable. The taxi driver, Lamb, stated subsequently that he felt a bump, but did not know what he had run over. Lamb appeared to be perfectly sober. Deceased had ample room to ‘swerve' to the rear of the first car.
“The smell of liquor on the deceased probably came from the liquor on his clothing from a broken bottle,” replied in answer to Mr Hamer.
Reviewing the evidence, the Coroner said that it disclosed that, due to what had been described as a “dirty, wet night,” a drizzling rain made the road greasy. The motor cycle touched the rear of the car coming down Stafford street, with the result that Spence was thrown from the machine and stunned. The oncoming taxi, the speed of which appeared to have been reasonable, proceeded on and ran over deceased without the driver being aware of what had occurred. Obviously, neither driver of the two cars was in any way to blame. “It is notorious that dark objects tend to merge into the background under such conditions,” said Mr Bartholomew. His verdict was that Spence died from internal haemorrhage, the result of extensive injuries to the organs of the abdomen and chest caused by being run over by a motor car in Princes street on August 30. -Evening Star, 14/9/1936.
IN MEMORIAM
SPENCE. — In loving memory of Mackay Spence (Mack.), who was killed on 31st August, 1936.
Death cannot from our minds erase His tender smile, his loving face;
His words, his actions, are not dead. But in our minds are daily read.
— Inserted by his loving father, mother, and sisters and brothers. -Evening Star, 31/8/1938.
IN MEMORIAM
SPENCE. — In loving memory of our dear son, Mackay Spence, who was killed in Dunedin, August 30th, 1936.
Three years have gone, and still we miss him, Never will that memory fade
As we stand to look and ponder O’er the grave where you are laid.
— Inserted by his loving mother and father, and brothers and sisters. -Evening Star, 31/8/1939.
IN MEMORIAM
SPENCE. — In loving memory of our son, Mackay Spence, who was killed at Dunedin, August 30, 1936.
Some may think we have forgotten.
Because they see us smile;
But they do not know the sorrow
That lies behind the while.
We who loved you sadly miss you as it dawns another year.
— Inserted by his loving father and mother. -Evening Star, 30/8/1947.
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