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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier. Saturday 01 Sep 1945
Page 6 Column 5
CAR COLLIDES WITH AIRCRAFT CARRIER
FATALITY NEAR ILMINSTER
VERDICT AT RESUMED INQUEST
Tragic ending to a contemplated holiday in Devonshire was described to the West Somerset Coroner, Col. G. P. CLARKE, at the adjourned inquest at Ilminster on Tuesday concerning the death of Mr. Ernest Edgar Taylor VALLANCE (36), experimental development engineer, of 55, Harp-road, Hanwell, London. While motoring from London to Teignmouth with his father and another man, Mr. VALLANCE was fatally injured when the saloon car he was driving collided with an aircraft carrier on a bend near the Smithy at Whitelackington on the Ilminster-Ilchester-road. The car overturned, the driver was killed almost instantaneously, both passengers were seriously injured, and also the driver of the R.A.F. carrier and his mate. The Coroner, after a lengthy inquiry, returned a verdict of “Misadventure.”
Mr. R. W. YOUNG (Taunton) was present on behalf of the R.A.F. authorities, and Mr. R. J. McGAHEY (Exeter) represented the relatives of the deceased man.
Evidence was given by Richard John WOODLAND, farm worker, of Middle Field Cottage, Seavington St. Mary; Miss Vera May DENMAN, agricultural worker of the Cottage, Whitlackington <sic>, who was cycling along the road at the time of the accident; P.C. Richard James SPINKS, of the Metropolitan Police, stationed at Hendon who arrived on the scene shortly after the accident occurred; P.C W. J. BYRD (Ilminster); Albert Ernest VALLANCE, retired postman of 13, Home Farm-road, Hanwell, father of the deceased man; L.A.C. James Howard CARTER, 86, M.U., R.A.F., stationed at Sundridge, near Sevenoaks, Kent, the driver's mate on the aircraft carrier; and L.A.C. Albert Edward CARTER (33) driver of the R.A.F. vehicle, who elected to give evidence.
CARS FAST SPEED.
He stated that on approaching the bend in the road he slowed down. He was on his correct side of the road within two to three feet of the bank. A private car came towards the carrier at a very fast speed with its near wheels on the white line. He applied his brakes, and at the time of the impact the carrier was almost at a standstill. The driver of the car appeared to take his hands off the steering wheel to shield his face, and at the same moment the car swung out, and its off-side front wheel struck the nearside bonnet of the carrier front unit
The Coroner in returning his verdict, said he accepted the evidence of the R.A.F. men. It was clear that the car was travelling on the wrong side of the road. When the driver tried to right it the accident happened.