South Yorkshire Times, December 23, 1932
Tragic Skid
Fatal Accident to Wath Motor-Cyclist
Survivor’s Blank Memory
Mishap Due To Icy Surface
An inquiry into the fatal accident which occurred in Bolton Road, Swinton, on Dec. 7th, resulting in the death of Steven Staley Willis, colliery electrician, “Woodend,” Woodlands Road, Sandygate. Wath, and serious injury to Ronald Atkinson, mining student, Highlands,” Sandygate. Wath, was held at the Montagu Hospital On Wednesday by Mr. W. II. Carlile, with a jury.
Mr. W. Lindsay Crawford (Doncaster) represented the driver of the lorry involved, also the owner of the lorry, Mr. J. Kemp, Fitzwilliam Street, Swinton.
Andrew Staley Willis (father), “Hillcrest,” Cemetery Road, Wath-on-Dearne, gave evidence of identification.
Terrible Injuries.
Dr. Norah M. Dunbar, house surgeon at the Montagu Hospital, said Willis was admitted on Dec. 7th. about 3-30 p.m. He was unconscious, suffering front fractures of the skull and jaw, lacerated chin, and several small abrasions on the body. He died several minutes after admission, death being due to the fractures. The right upper and lower jaws were compietely smashed, and the force of those injuries would be sufficient to have fractured the frontal skull hone and the bone of the skull. He had not been run over by the lorry.
Round The Bend.
Fred Phillips, 56 Charles Street, Swinton (labourer), said that at the time of the accident he was working in Bolton Road, 200 yards from Manvers Main Colliery. “The motor-cyclist passed me, going in the direction of Swinton. He was travelling at moderate speed on his proper side of the road. He was not going fast.” The accident occurred 160 yards from where witness was working but his view was obstructed by a bend in the road. “The first I knew of it was Mr. Kemp coming down the road and shouting to a boy on a bicycle to fetch the ambulance from Manvers Main. That seemed to be immediately after the motorcyclist had passed me.” Witness went to the scene and saw the lorry stood with the front near wheel on the footpath on its proper side of the road. The back nearwheel was close to the footpath. The motor-cycle was lying between the front of the lorry and the back axle, quite underneath. Willis was lying in the middle of the road with his head towards the colliery and his legs under the lorry, one being pinned by the cycle. Atkinson was on the side of the road. There was a mark on the surface of the road which he thought showed that the motor cycle had been dragged a short distance. The road had an icy surface due to heavy frosts. The road was winding and narrow and the accident had occurred 80 yards from the bend.
Answering Police Inspector Holey, witness said Willis would be able to see 100 yards after turning the bend. The lorry driver and Willis should have seen each other for that distance.
Reasonable Speed.
Bernard Meggitt, haulage hand, 21, Church street, Swinton, gave evidence of the lorry passing him at a reasonable speed towards the colliery. It was in the centre of the road. “I next heard a crash, and on looking round saw that the lorry had turned into the hedge with its front wheels. There was a body near its back wheel, a motor-cycle with its front end underneath the lorry, and another body in the middle of the road. I pulled that person, who was Ronnie Atkinson, to the side of the road, and then turned to Willis, his head, which was in a pool of blood, was towards the centre of the road, and one leg was under the motor-cycle and the other doubled beneath his body.”
Witness added that he did not hear a hooter sounded prior to the accident, which happened about 15 yards from him. “Brookes told me immediately I got there that Willis and Atkinson were zig-zagging all over the road and ran into the lorry.”
Answering inspector Holey, witness said the lorry was stopped when he turned round after the crash.
Survivor’s Blank Memory.
Atkinson, on being called, told the Coroner: “I feel quite sound, but I have no evidence to offer. I remember nothing about the accident. I only know what I have been told since. I have no recollection of even getting on the cycle, although I have ridden with Willis several times. I have no recollection in any shape or form of what happened that day. I only found out that I was pillion-riding with him from my father and mother last Sunday.
The Coroner: You are lucky to be alive, I think,
Atkinson: I suppose I am, sir.
Answering Mr. Willis, Atkinson said that on the previous occasions he hail ridden with Willis he had always felt safe. “I have never had any doubts about his capabilities as a driver.”
Lorry Driver’s Story.
The driver of the lorry, Fred Brooke, 12, Station Street, Swinton, said he had been driving lorries for four years. Prior to the accident he saw the motor-cycle come round a bend just over 100 yards away. The machine was in the centre of the road, perhaps slightly to its wrong side. “My speed would be between 12 and 15 miles an hour, and immediately I saw him I took my foot off the accelerator and let the lorry gradually slow down, so that the cyclist could get back to his right side.
He still maintained the middle of the road, and I saw how dangerously near he was getting, so I turned sharply into the footpath and applied my brakes. I finished with my front near wheel on the footpath. I then felt and heard an impact. I think his front offside handlebar hit my front offside mudguard. I looked and saw the state of the driver, and my boss went for an ambulance. I got out of my cab and gave what assistance I could.
The Coroner: Did you say anything to either Phillips or Meggitt regarding the accident?—No.
Meggitt says you told him Willis was zig-zagging all over the road prior to the accident. Did you tell him that?—No.
Was he doing that?— I do not think so.
What caused the accident in your opinion? —Through him being on the wrong side of the road. His speed was fairly fast, not less than 30 miles on hour. I could not avoid the accident. There was plenty of room for Willis to pass me.
Witness added he thought that owing to the slippery state of the mid Willis found he could not pull back to his right side in time. He should have seen the lorry for at least 100 yards.
Answering Mr. Crawford, Brooke said this was the first accident in which he had been involved. After the accident the throttle of the motor-cycle was at full, but he could not say whether it had been opened by the driver or by the impact.
Father’s Exoneration.
Mr Willis: I have seen this lad driving hundreds of times and he always appears to be careful. I do not blame him in any way.
The Coroner: It is very good of you to express that opinion.
Sgt. Johnston (Swinton) gave evidence of being called to the scene at 3.20 at the same day. Marks on the road showed clearly that the lorry had been turned sharply into the footpath eight yards from where the impact occurred. The road was 14ft. 4in. wide at that point, and there were a number of potholes which the cyclist wools’ have had to pass just prior to the accident. He examined the lorry, and found the brakes were keen. The front offside mudguard was bent, while underneath the cab was broken. The handlebars of the cycle were broken off at the stem, while the brake lever had been wrenched off.
The Coroner complimented the sergeant on the plan and photographs he had prepared.
Pure Accident.
Addressing the jury, the Coroner said he thought they should be satisfied that there was no criminal negligence attached to anyone concerned. The evidence pointed to the tact that the motor-lorry was travelling at a reasonable speed. “It is clear to me that the cycle was travelling either on the middle or the wrong side of the road, and that owing to the frost-bound surface he found it difficult to get back to his proper side. All the witnesses have given their evidence very well, and I think it points to one conclusion. The driver of the lorry gave his evidence very frankly and did not try to turn anything to his own account. I think we should be satisfied that he is a careful and experienced driver, and we have the father’s expression, for which we are indebted, on that fact.”
A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned