Worthing Gazette, Wednesday 22 December 1943.
Tragic coincidence. Another motor fatality in Tarring Road.
Opening an inquest yesterday at Worthing Hospital, the District Coroner
(Mr. F. W. Butler) said it was a remarkable occurrence that within a few
days of each other he had held an enquiry respecting the deaths of two
people in the same thoroughfare in Worthing, both of whom had been
knocked down and killed by motorists, whose identities were still
unknown.
The inquest relating to the death last Friday night of a maiden lady
almost 70-years of age, who was knocked down by a passing motorist near
St. Matthews Church, Tarring Road.
Mrs. Emma Worsley, of the "Spotted Dog," Penshurst, Kent, said the
deceased, Miss Emma Andrews, living at 45, Howard Street, Worthing, was
her aunt, whose body she had identified.
The old lady, said witness enjoyed fairly good health, though she had a
rather trying illness about two-and-a-half years ago. She (witness) had
not seen her for some long period, but corresponded with her regularly.
In a recent letter the aunt had told her that her eyesight was getting
weaker.
Eyewitnesses Account.
Mr. J. W. Churchill said about 8 p.m. Last Friday he was walking towards
his home and expecting to meet his wife. When he was against St.
Matthews Church he saw an old lady step off the kerb and proceed across
the road, going in a slanting direction.
She had almost reached the centre of the road when a motor car coming
along hit her, knocking her down.
It was a saloon 4-seater car travelling from west to east. Witness said
he thought the car was going "a bit too fast for that time of the
night." The car was doing a good 30 miles an hour, and the nearside of
the car knocked the lady down. The car was travelling in the centre of
the road. Mr. Churchill added that he shouted for the driver to stop but
he drove on.
What Reserve Constable Hubbard said when he was called to the scene of
the accident the deceased was lying with her head some 18 inches from
the white mark in the roadway, and her feet would be about 12 inches
from the white line. The lady had head wounds and he saw she was removed
to Worthing Hospital.
No Response to Broadcast.
Dr. Grovia, the House Physician at the hospital, stated the lady died
within some 25 minutes of being received at the hospital. She had a
nasty bruise over one of the eyes and was unconscious from entering
until her death. In his opinion death was the result of shock as a
result of an accident. The wounds on the head were external.
The coroner said that although the B.B.C. broadcast the accident last
Sunday morning the driver had not come forward to explain matters.
He did not feel justified in saying death was the result of this alleged
accident without some evidence to that effect.
The driver was obviously driving on the crown of the road. Even if this
driver had not seen the woman, it was his opinion he must have known he
had hit something. Mr. Butler Returned a verdict deceased died as result
of shock and a wound on the head, but there was not sufficient evidence
to show how death had taken place. |