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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier Saturday 18 Mar 1944
Page 5 Column 7
FATAL ACCIDENTS AT NORTH PETHERTON
TWO INQUESTS
COUNCIL ACTION ON DANGEROUS BENDS
Fatal accidents to two North Petherton men within a few yards in a period of ten days at a dangerous bend in the main road through the village were the subjects of inquests held simultaneously at Bridgwater on Thursday, one by Mr. P. F. HANCOCK, deputy coroner for West Somerset, and the other by the Borough Coroner, Mr. Christopher ROWE.
The victims were Mr. Arthur Wm. SEYMOUR, aged 48, dairyman and farmer, of Woolmersdon Farm, and Mr. James CORAM, aged 81, basket-maker, of Victoria-road.
Mr. SEYMOUR was instantly killed on Sunday morning, February 20th, when he was struck by a U.S. Army motor-lorry while crossing Fore-street with his milk can, and Mr. CORAM died in Bridgwater Hospital two hours after admission on February 29th, when he was knocked down by another lorry near the same spot.
OPEN VERDICT ON DAIRYMAN
After a lengthy hearing Mr. HANCOCK recorded a verdict that Mr. SEYMOUR died from multiple injuries through being knocked down by a U.S. Army lorry while crossing the road, but that there was insufficient evidence to show whether or not the driver of the lorry was negligent.
Mr. H. SCHOLFIELD (Messrs. R. POOLE & Son) represented the relatives, Mr. F. G. PEARSON (Lovibond, Son, & Barrington) the driver and American authorities, and Supt. S. C. WHITTLE attended on behalf of the police.
Charles Henry COTON, of Bridgwater, brother-in-law, who gave evidence of identity when the inquest was opened on February 23rd, said his brother-in-law was a bit short-sighted, but could see well with his glasses.
The next witness was Staff-Sergt. William C. DECKELMAN, who was in charge of the convoy of four lorries and driving the rear one. Their instructions, he said, were to keep 150 feet apart and not to exceed 30 m.p.h.
In answer to Mr. SCHOLFIELD, witness said the other drivers and himself knew it was a very dangerous bend.
P.C. SUMMERS, North Petherton, gave various measurements and said the body was lying against the kerb beside the nearside of the lorry, having been carried for 95 feet.
P.S. LUSCOMBE, of Bridgwater, said the braking efficiency of the lorry was at least 80 per cent.
DRIVER'S EVIDENCE
The driver of the lorry, Dewey Lionel DAILEY, said when he first saw Mr. SEYMOUR he was 10 to 15 yards away, standing on the sidewalk with his milk can and with his head down. His milk cart was on the opposite side of the road. Witness pulled over to his right.
“I was getting up pretty close there.” witness continued, “and I saw him take a step. I blew my horn and as soon as I blew my horn he ran out in front of me.”
Witness expected him to stop, but he kept on, and the lorry hit him. Then witness automatically turned to his left to get back to his proper side. He applied his brakes and pulled up after skidding on the milk.
In answer to Mr. PEARSON witness said he put on his brakes when the man started to run. There was nothing else he could have done to avoid the man when he started to run.
The report of Dr. C. MacGAFFEY, pathologist, Taunton, showed that death was due to multiple injuries.
Supt. WHITTLE stated that they had been unable to secure the attendance as witnesses of the first and third drivers.
Summing up the Coroner said he found some difficulty in arriving at the verdict because there were one of two things he did not understand, and he was handicapped through not having the evidence of the other drivers.
Mr PEARSON expressed deep sympathy with the relatives on behalf of the driver and United Stated Army authorities, for which Mr. SCHOLFIELD made acknowledgement.
SECOND FATALITY
The Borough Coroner, at the adjourned inquest on Mr. J. CORAM, returned a verdict of “Accidental death.” Expressing sympathy with the relatives, he said it was a sad end to a long and useful life.
P.C. SUMMERS said that on February 29th, about 2 p.m., he was called to the Bridge, near the George Hotel, where a lorry was on its offside of the road. CORAM had been removed. From the apparent point of impact to the rear of the lorry was 23 feet. Witness was informed that CORAM was lying parallel with the white line in the centre of the road, and a little on the offside of the line.
The driver of the lorry, interviewed, said that he was travelling at about 15 m.p.h., on his proper side, and as he reached the George corner he changed down to third gear. He went around the corner and saw a man on the pavement on the nearside.
“When I first saw him,” the statement continued, “he was about 10 yards in front of me, and he stepped off the kerb into the road. He was going the same way as me and had his back to me. As he stepped off the kerb I blew my horn. He was then only about three feet from the kerb. As I blew my horn he glanced towards me and I pulled across to my offside.
“Instead of staying where he was, I was amazed to see him start to run across the road. I went as close as I could to my offside, but the man tried to beat me and ran into my nearside front wing. I put my brakes on and stopped as soon as I could and went back.”
P.C. SUMMERS added that he had seen the lorry pass School-lane, and it was then being driven at about 15 miles an hour, and quite ordinarily.
In answer to Mr. F. W. WILLMOTT, who represented the lorry driver, witness agreed it was a very dangerous corner for anyone to step off so close to it. Everything suggested that the driver did all he could to avoid the accident.
SIGHT AND HEARING GOOD.
Miss Marjorie CORAM, daughter, said that for his age her father's sight and hearing were good.
In answer to Mr. WILLMOTT, Miss CORAM agreed that it was a very dangerous place to cross.
Dr. John Peirce O'TOOLE, resident house surgeon at Bridgwater Hospital, said that Mr. CORAM died about two hours after admission, from shock, following multiple injuries, which included a fractured skull.
The lorry driver, Alfred BONE, of Back-street, Walthamstow, London, confirmed his statement to P.C. SUMMERS, and said that if Mr. CORAM had stopped where he was witness would have avoided him.
RURAL COUNCIL'S ACTION
At the meeting of Bridgwater Rural District Council on Wednesday it was reported that the Rev. P. T. PRYCE-MICHELL had referred to the fatal accident on February 20th at a meeting of the General Purposes Committee. It was decided to direct the attention of the County Council as highway authority to the dangerous corners and bends on the main road through North Petherton, and to request erection of appropriate warning signs or imposition of a lower speed limit through the village.