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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier Saturday 10 Sep 1938
Page 12 Column 6 and 7
TAUNTON DRIVER EXONERATED
CURRY RIVEL CHILD KILLED
KNOCKED DOWN BY LORRY
ACCIDENT AFTER LEAVING A.R.P. DEMONSTRATION
A verdict of “Accidental Death” was recorded at the inquest on Monday evening on Keith Victor BURGE, the seven-years-old son of Mr. and Mrs. V. E. BURGE, of 4, Council Houses, Westfield, Curry Rivel, who met his death as the result of an accident at High-street, Curry Rivel, on Friday afternoon. The lad, it is understood, had visited an inspection gas-proof room in company with other children after school. He was knocked down by a motor-lorry when crossing the road in one of the narrowest places in the village. The lorry was being driven by Mr. Clifford J. MOCKRIDGE, of 70, Outer Circle, Taunton. Deep sympathy is extended to Mr. and Mrs. BURGE and family in their sad bereavement.
The inquest, which was held at the Sewers Hall on Monday, was conducted by Mr. Geoffrey P. CLARKE (Coroner for West Somerset), who sat with a jury of seven, of whom Mr. C. D. SPARKES was appointed foreman. - P.C. BATESON was the Coroner's officer. The driver of the lorry was represented by Mr. C. M. B. KITE, of Taunton.
Victor Edward BURGE (bricklayer), of 4, Council Houses, Curry Rivel, father of the boy, said his son's hearing and eye-sight were quite good.
INSTANTANEOUS DEATH.
Dr. John Lee GLOVER (Curry Rivel) said that he was called to the scene of the accident, and the boy was then lying dead in the road. The injuries included a fractured skull, fractured right arm, and leg. Death must have been instantaneous.
Replying to Mr. KITE, Dr. GLOVER said he did not think either of the wheels of the lorry passed over the deceased.
Martin George WHITE (market gardener), of Cheddon-road, Taunton, said at about 4.15 p.m. on Friday he was driving a lorry towards Taunton. Some-where near the Curry Rivel Post-office another lorry passed him going in the opposite direction travelling at from 12-15 miles per hour. “A moment after this,” witness continued, “I heard a screeching of brakes, and looking in my mirror I saw the other lorry had struck something. I immediately stopped and went back to see what had happened.
BOY UNDER WHEEL.
The boy was just under the off-side rear wheel, which, however, had not passed over him,” said witness. “The driver backed at my request, releasing the boy's left arm. I then carried the boy to the other side of the road. Before the lorry passed I did not see any boys in the road. I heard the screech practically as the other lorry was passing the rear of my lorry. I had to go back the road about ten years after I had pulled up.”
Answering the Coroner, witness said the other lorry was going downhill at the time.
In reply to questions by Mr. BURGE, witness said the owners of the lorry involved in the accident were Messrs. J. White & Sons, of East Reach, Taunton. Although it was a coincidence that his name was WHITE, and that he came from Taunton, he was in no way connected with the firm.
P.C. BATESON (Curry Rivel) said that he arrived on the scene of the accident at about 4.25 p.m., having travelled by the Langport ambulance. Dr. GLOVER was already in attendance, and the boy was subsequently taken to the Langport mortuary. He was informed the lorry had not been moved. It was standing outside the entrance of Messrs. HOSKINGS' yard, 2ft. 8ins. from the near side wall, facing Langport. The road was 18ft. wide. The lorry was 5ft. 8ins. wide. There was a skid-mark made, apparently, by the off-side rear wheel of the lorry. This was 15 feet in length, extending from the back of the lorry, and 8ft. 4ins. from the nearside kerb. - In reply to Mr. KITE, witness said the lorry was pulled up almost parallel with the wall.
Answering the Coroner witness said having left the A.R.P. lecture, the boy would have had to cross the road. He had made enquiries, and was informed that the deceased was attending the demonstration at Mr. HOSKINGS' premises. As far as he knew the children were not attended by a teacher.
The Coroner explained that he was endeavouring to ascertain whether there was any actual witness of the accident.
DEMONSTRATION GAS-PROOF ROOM.
It was stated by a juryman that a room belonging to Mr. HOSKINGS had been equipped as a gas-proof room, and the school children had been invited to inspect it, arrangements having been made for them to obtain the key from Mr. HOSKINGS. Apparently the lad had visited the room after school on Friday in company with other children.
The Coroner remarked that it was rather strange that the deceased should have left the room on his own and met with the accident.
P.C. BATESON said when he arrived on the scene there were several children gathered at the spot, but in answer to his inquiries none of them apparently had actually witnessed the accident.
LORRY DRIVER'S EVIDENCE.
Clifford J. MOCKRIDGE, of 70, Outer Circle, Taunton, lorry driver, said that at about 4.15 p.m. he was driving in High-street, Curry Rivel, and was proceeding towards Langport at about 15 miles per hour. He passed another lorry, and a motor-car going in the opposite direction outside Messrs. HOSKINGS' yard. Just as his lorry was passing the end of the car, a boy ran from the off-side, straight into the lorry. He applied his brakes and pulled up as quickly as he could. The boy's foot was then just beside the back wheel. The glass of the off-side front head lamp on the lorry was broken in the accident. When witness first saw the boy, he was running somewhere in the road with his head down.
Asked by Mr. BURGE, witness said he did not know what happened to the car after the accident.
P.S. COOMBS said that the police had made enquiries, but had been unable to trace the car.
Mr. WHITE, a previous witness, said if there had been a car, he would not have seen the accident in the driving mirror.
Replying to Mr. KITE, the lorry-driver said the brakes of the lorry were tested periodically, the last time being on August 29th. The lorry, which was a 1932 model, was not equipped with four-wheel brakes.
CHILDREN IN A GATEWAY.
Walter TOOZE, 3, Leycroft-road, Taunton, the driver's mate, said that a blue car was following the other lorry. Next he saw the boy running from the other side of the road. He then heard a bump against the front of the lorry. The driver pulled up as quickly as ever he could. There were several children standing in a gateway, and one of them (the deceased) ran out into the lorry.
DRIVER EXONERATED.
The jury, as stated, returned a verdict of “Accidental Death,” and exonerated the driver of the lorry from blame. They expressed sympathy with the bereaved family, to whom they handed their fees.
The Coroner and Mr. KITE (on behalf of the lorry driver) associated themselves with the expression of sympathy.
THE FUNERAL
The funeral took place at the Parish Church on Wednesday. The Vicar (Rev. J. H. T. MAUDE-ROXBY) conducted the service at the church and at the graveside.
The family mourners were:- Mr. and Mrs. V. BURGE (parents), Masters Tom and Harry BURGE and Miss Doris BURGE (brothers and sister), Mr. and Mrs. A. BURGE, ASH, Mr. and Mrs. S. BURGE, Merriott, Miss A. BURGE, Mrs. RANDALL, Weston-super-Mare, Mr. and Mrs. H. BURGE, and Mr. B. HOOPER (uncles and aunts), Miss RANDALL (niece), Mrs. STEVENS, Stalbridge (cousin), Mrs. T. HULL (friend).
Among the general mourners were the following:- Mr. H. WEAVER and Mr. R. EMERY, Mesdames A. HARRIS, H. HULL, - FARMER, J. CHORLEY, H. G. BOOBYER, FINDLAY, SIMMONDS, H. DANIEL, F. WEST, FROST, C. WILLEY, T. CHARD, F. ATEYO, W. ROGERS, R. BOOBYER, H. HARWOOD and C. HARWOOD, S. BURGE, R. POPE, F. PAULL, T. EDMUNDS, J. H. SILGO, J. COUSINS, T.
(Continued in next column.)
(Continued from preceding column).
PRIDDLE, B. KNAPP, E. HULL, W. HARRIS, H. RICHARDS, M. COUSINS, A. ROGERS, S. RICHARDS, A. MACEY, C. F. COX, P. H. KNOWLES, F. CHORLEY, H. SAWTELL, N. GLOVER, R. SHAPLAND, F. OVERD, C. KEIRLE, C. MOUNTER, R. HUCKLE, and W. LANGFORD. Misses OSMOND, GOODING, BURROWS, M. TILLEY, Misses LANGFORD and many others. Mrs. J. E. LOVELL (representing the staff of the day-schools), and Mrs. PITMAN (Sunday School teacher) and Miss CHAMBERS (Sunday School).
The bearers included Messrs. S. and H. BURGE (uncles) and W. STACEY.
There were over 60 beautiful floral tokens, including wreaths from the day and Sunday Schools.
Much sympathy is extended to Mr. and Mrs. BURGE and family in the tragic loss they have sustained. The little boy was of a bright and cheerful disposition, and will be sadly missed.
Mr. and Mrs. BURGE and family desire to thank all those who have so kindly expressed their sympathy with them in their sad loss, and for the wreaths and floral tokens.
<NOTES: Keith Victor BURGE son of Edward Victor or Victor BURGE and Kate LAMBERT
Clifford James MOCKRIDGE son of Henry MOCKRIDGE and Mary Ann Elizabeth BAKER, married Irene Queenie May GRIFFITHS>