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Walked In Front Of ’Bus Wheel
Young Man’s Fatal Step While Talking to Friend
Driver Exonerated At Rushden Inquest
That the death of Mr. Reginald George Whitney, a Rushden boot operative, was due to an unguarded step when the deceased had his head turned away from the ’bus from which he had alighted was established at the resumed inquest last Friday.
Mr. J. C. Parker sat with a jury at the Ambulance Rooms. Mr. A. P. Price (Messrs. Darnell and Price, Northampton) represented the relatives, and Mr. J. H. Johnson (Messrs. Burnham, Son and Lewin, Wellingborough) appeared for the United Counties Omnibus Co. Police Inspector Sharman also attended, and Councillor T. F. B. Newberry was foreman of the jury.
The Coroner said that on Thursday, January 25th, Whitney, who lived at 19, Tennyson-road, was a passenger on a United Counties omnibus, from which he alighted in Tennyson-place. By some means he was knocked down by the ’bus and killed. The inquest was opened the same day, when the deceased’s father, a greengrocer, said his son was 18 years old, and had good eyesight and hearing.
The first witness on Friday was Reginald Palmer, of 86, Highfield-road, Rushden, shoe operative, who said that on Thursday, January 25th, at 12.40, he was in the workmen’s ’bus which left the top of Church-street and went to Tennyson-place, and Whitney, with whom he worked, was with him.
They got off at the end of Tennyson-place, dismounting on the near side of the ’bus, which was then stationary. When about a yard in front, witness heard the ’bus start up and heard somebody shout “Hi up!”
Under The Wheel
Turning to his right, he saw the ’bus “about on top” of them.
The Coroner: Whitney was nearer the ’bus than you? – Witness: Yes.
“I took a pace to the left and got away,” added witness. “I turned my head and saw Whitney falling in front of the near-side front wheel. Then I saw the wheel pass over him. It appeared to pass over the small of his back.
The Coroner: Did the ’bus then pull up? – It appeared to go about a yard.
Did you hear the motor horn sounded? – I did not hear it.
Need the deceased have crossed the road? – Yes.
Was there any other traffic about? – Not that I noticed.
Had you to cross the road too? – No.
Was there any reason why Whitney should not have gone behind the ’bus? – Not that I know of.
Was he talking to you? – Yes.
Witness added that the way Whitney went was the quickest.
The Coroner: He had done this lots of time before to your knowledge? – Witness: Yes.
The Foreman: Did you hear the conductor give the signal for the ’bus to go away? – Witness: No.
Mr. Price: Do you know whether the ’bus was moving off towards Tennyson-place or Highfield-road? – Witness: If it had kept straight on it would have gone more towards Highfield-road.
Many Injuries
Dr. R. W. Davies said he was called to the house at one o’clock and found Whitney dead. There were bruises on the front of both knees, on the upper third of the right thigh, in front, on the back of the pelvis, left side, and signs of considerable internal abdominal haemorrhage.
A bruise on the breastbone corresponded with a track of mud up the shirt in front. There was a bruise over the lower ribs on the right side, a bruise on the left hand and fore-arm, a cut 2½ inches long and one inch wide above the left elbow, and a bruise in front of the left shoulder. The left side of the neck and face were bruised and grazed, but there was no sign of any fracture.
The injuries were the cause of death and were compatible with being run over by a heavy vehicle.
James Albert Underwood, of 77, Irchester-road, Rushden, a shoehand, employed by Messrs. John Cave and Sons, said he was in the ’bus, which left Church-street at 12.35. He was sitting in the second seat on the near side, but another man was between him and the window. The ’bus stopped at Tennyson-place, and some of the people got off.
The Coroner: What did you see? – Witness: I was looking out of the window and saw two youths walking along the near side of the ’bus towards the front.
Did you know either of them? – I didn’t know either of them until after the accident.
“It was all clear in front of me,” continued witness, “and the driver was just starting his engine. All of a sudden the one who was hurt happened to step one foot to the right in front of the wheel.”
Looking Away
In reply to questions, witness said that when the youths got level with him the ’bus was about to start. The deceased “put his foot down” just as the ’bus was moving.
The Coroner: And what happened? – Witness: The boy seemed to be dragged down under the front wheel.
You didn’t see any more, I suppose? – I got out of the ’bus and they were just getting him from under the grating when I got to him.
Did you hear the hooter of the ’bus? – I didn’t hear anything.
The Coroner drew attention to the fact that the witness suffered from deafness.
Mr. Price: Which way was the deceased looking when you first saw him? – Witness: Away from the ’bus.
And when he stepped in front of the ’bus? – He seemed to step without looking, as if he knew the way without looking.
The Coroner: Still to the left? – Witness: Yes.
Edgar Saddington, of 17, William-street, Burton Latimer, a conductor in the employ of the United Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., said the starting point of the ’bus was outside Mr. John White’s factory in Newton-road, and the destination Westfield-avenue, via Purvis-road and Tennyson-road.
They arrived at Tennyson-place at approximately 12.36, and the majority of passengers got off there. It would be only a matter of a few seconds for the passengers to get off, as they would be in a hurry. He did not notice Whitney. When he gave the signal to proceed the rear was clear and no-one was getting on or alighting. He did not notice anyone walking at the side.
The ’bus started off slowly, and he should say it had gone a yard at the outside when he felt a bump, which was followed by the ’bus being suddenly stopped.
He got down and found a man lying under the front part of the ’bus, his head facing the bonnet, close to the inside of the front near wheel.
The Foreman: When you signalled the driver to go along, did you hear him sound his hooter? – Witness: No.
A juror: When you ring your bell to start, can they hear it from outside? – Witness: Well, that depends. When the engine is racing up perhaps they would not, but if they had good hearing they might. As you know, the bell is inside the driver’s cabin.
Driver’s Evidence
Victor Watts Dilcock, who was informed that he need not give evidence unless he chose, elected to do so. He said he lived at Station-road, Irthlingborough, and had been a driver in the Company’s employ about 14 years.
The ’bus was a double-decker, weighing unladen six tons two quarters three cwt., and it was a type he was quite familiar with.
Coming to the incident in Tennyson-place, the Coroner said: “I think that after stopping there a few seconds you got the signal to proceed?”
Witness: Yes. I then went into bottom gear and accelerated. I released the hand brake and moved forward. Just as I had moved off I noticed the deceased step in front of my near side front wheel. I applied both brakes immediately.
Could you see whether you had caught him or not? – I was immediately out of the cab.
I take it that was the first time you had seen the deceased – just in front of you? – Yes.
On this type of ’bus you sit over the off side of the bonnet? – Yes.
Being in that position, would that prevent you seeing anyone as they walked along the near side? – No.
But you would be looking ahead, presumably? – I was looking in the direction of Tennyson-road, into which I was proceeding.
And what first drew your attention to him? – Well, of course, when you move off you have to look to see if there is anything coming along on the off-side. You take your front view next.
And the other one last: I follow you. And then it was you caught sight of the deceased. Did you notice which way he was looking? – I think his head was turned away from me. He was not looking in the direction he walked.
In all probability he never saw you at all? – I could not say. There is that possibility.
A Clear Road
The Foreman: Did you blow the hooter? – No. I didn’t blow the hooter; the road was all clear.
A Juror: Would your near side wing be within your line of vision without turning your head? – Witness: That is in view all the time, without turning your head.
Mr. Price: You heard one of the witnesses say that someone shouted some such expression as “Hi up!” Was it you who shouted? – Witness: No.
In answer to Mr. Johnson, Dilcock said he went on duty that morning at 5.50, and did 3 hours 20 minutes. He started again on the workmen’s dinner-time ’bus, and that was all the work he had done that day.
When this ’bus had set down its passengers, they turned it round at the end of Westfield-avenue and waited to take the workers back after their dinner – at 1.20.
P.C. Ashby said there were no marks of blood on the road, but he found small remnants of clothing.
A mark began five feet from the near side kerb, and showed a drag of four feet. At the end of the mark the near side kerb was six feet away.
There were no skid marks, and he found no marks on the ’bus which might have been caused at the time of the accident. The surface was wet and creasy owing to rain. He examined the brakes, and found that, at a speed of 15 miles per hour, empty, and on a wet surface, the driver pulled up in a distance of 21 feet.
“A Careful Driver”
Outlining the evidence, the Coroner referred to the driver as “a very old employee who has 14 years’ experience of driving all sorts of omnibuses and is a careful driver, I happen to know myself.”
“Deceased with his friend,” continued the Coroner, “instead of going to the back of the ’bus, which he might easily have done, as there was ample room, preferred to go on the near side, chatting to a friend, with his head turned the other way.
“There does not seem to me to be any blame at all attached to anybody. The only person on whom there could be any blame was the driver, and he has done all he could. He has been very frank and open with you. He only did what all careful drivers would do. He looked first to the right, then to the front, and finally to the near side, when he saw this boy, and unfortunately ran over him.
After a short retirement the jury returned their verdict as “Accidental death,” the Foreman saying that no blame whatever attached to anyone.
The jury gave their fees to Whitney’s parents, and Mr. Price thanked them for their kindness.
Mr. Johnson expressed the Company’s deep sympathy with the relatives.
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