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Somerset County Gazette. Sep/Oct 1963
SAFETY BELT MAY HAVE SAVED CAR DRIVER'S LIFE
Fatal night crash into horse
A SAFETY belt might have saved a Bridgwater man's life when his car was involved in a collision with two horses at night. This was the opinion of the Coroner and a pathologist at the Taunton inquest on Tuesday, when it was also suggested that the horses had got out on to the road on at least one previous occasion.
The jury returned a “mis-adventure” verdict on Mr Sidney Fred KITCH (64), traveller of 114A St John Street Bridgwater who died almost instantly when his car was in collision with on of the horses at Bathpool on the main Taunton-Bridgwater road on September 19th. The horse, a four year old hunter was badly injured and had to be destroyed on the spot.
The West Somerset Coroner Mr P. E. G. SMITH told the jury that they were not concerned in any way with the question of an offence being committed as a result of the horse being on the road or of any claim by the relatives of Mr. KITCH.
HORSES ON ROAD ONCE BEFORE?
But Mr. J. L. SHAW representing Mr KITCH's family asked Mrs M. E. PERRY sister of the horses owner. “Is it within your knowledge that these horses have been out on a number of occasions?” Mrs PERRY replied “I cannot remember they have been out before” Then she added “I think they were on the road once before. We always try and keep the gate shut. They were hunting horses and are not used to the road.”
Mrs B. G. F. DUDDRIDGE, who lives with her sister and her father Mr. A. JEFFERY at Langaller Manor Farm just off the main road near Bathpool said she owned the horses and bred them both. She told Mr SHAW “If anything happens to them I am to blame.”
When Mr SHAW said he had evidence of a conversation between her husband and a police officer on the desirability of getting rid of the horses because of the danger of an accident, she replied “My husband has nothing to do with these horses. He left me nearly three years ago and it is nothing whatever to do with him”
Asked what arrangements she made to see that the gate was not left open she told Mr SHAW “It is a private entrance and it is impossible to lock the gate with lorries and farm animals coming in and out.”
Mr SHAW “So there is always a danger that the horses will get out?” Mrs DUDDRIDGE “It is up to other people who come in and out. We always tell people to close the gate. Surely everyone know they must shut a farm gate?”
The Coroner “Everyone who comes to the farm in a vehicle has to open the gate?” Mrs DUDDRIDGE “Yes.” She told the Coroner that the horses were in a paddock off the drive up to the farm from the gate and there was nothing to separate them from it.
CYCLED AFTER HORSES
Mrs PERRY described at the inquest how she cycled after the horses on the night of the accident, after her father had told her they had got out. She found the gate was open but had no idea who had done it. She said it had been found open before. The entrance to the farm was opposite the West Monkton turning and motorists sometimes came in to turn.
As she went after the horses she could hear their hooves and when she reached the main road she saw then on the grass verge. But before she could get to them they ran towards Taunton.
“I tried to get motorists to stop but none of them would.” she said. The last time she saw the horses they were in the middle of the road. Then she heard an impact.
Mrs PERRY told Mr SHAW that her father had also been coming after the horses but he had blood pressure and heart trouble and was not able to go so fast.
P.C. DAVEY, who was called to the scene of the accident at about 10.20 p.m. said it occurred about 300 yards on the Taunton side of the Blue Star Garage. He found Mr. KITCH's car facing Bridgwater on its offside of the road. “The front was extensively damaged and Mr KITCH who was still in the driver's seat appeared to be dead.
A passenger in the car Mr Tom WELLINGTON (57) of 100 St John Street Bridgwater was lying in the road about 10 yards behind the vehicle. The injured horse and its companion which had not been hurt were about 30 yards down the road on the Taunton side of the car.
Mr WELLINGTON who sustained concussion in the crash, was unable to be present at the inquest but a statement was read in which he said he could not remember anything of the circumstances of the accident. “Medical opinion is that he never will.” said the Coroner.
NO MEMORY OF ACCIDENT
In his statement Mr WELLINGTON said he could remember going on to the stage of the Gaumont at Taunton to receive a cheque on behalf of the British Empire Cancer Campaign of which he is Bridgwater local secretary but he could not remember actually receiving it. He could remember later going on to a function at the Creech Castle Hotel but could not remember leaving or anything after that. At the hotel he had an orange juice to drink and Mr KITCH had a pale ale.
Miss J. M. WILLIAMSON a receptionist at the Creech Castle Hotel said she was driving from Bridgwater towards Taunton when she saw car headlights coming towards her on the wrong side of the road. She stopped and got out and saw the horse and the man in the road.
A pathologist Dr. C. E. M. WARE said the cause of death was a fractured skill and laceration of the brain, consistent with Mr. KITCH's hitting his head on the windscreen. In fact he had been propelled forward through the screen. No evidence of alcohol was found in his body.
A safety belt might have saved Mr. KITCH's life said Dr WARE. “I feel that had he been wearing a safety belt it would have prevented the damage to his head.”
Summing-up Mr SMITH said it was unsatisfactory that there were no eye-witnesses of the crash. “Unfortunately no one has come forward to say where the horses were when one of them was struck by the car.” he said. It was reasonable to suppose that Mr. KITCH was driving on his correct side of the road and there was no suggestion that he was not driving in a proper manner.
Quite clearly a safety belt could have saved his life and no doubt the accident would lead to further use of them. “I know they are still rather expensive but here is a case where one can see the usefulness of them.” he said.