Reason for Loss |
Rugby Advertiser December 16th 1941: "AIRCRAFTMAN KILLED. Jury Consider Victim Was To Blame. "We have come to the conclusion that he had himself to blame," said the Coroner (Mr. E. F. Hadow), at the inquest at Rugby on Friday on Aircraftman Edward Ernest Richard Gornall, aged 19, who died in the Hospital of St. Cross early on Wednesday last week, The jury returned a verdict that Gornall died from severe shock and internal injuries sustained when the lorry in which he was a passenger came into collision with a private lorry, and that he was sitting on the side of the lorry, contrary to regulations. Corporal Charles John Lee, said that at 5.50 p.m. on December 9th he was travelling in a lorry along the Lutterworth Road, near Willey. He was in front, with the driver. They met a private lorry travelling in the direction of Nuneaton, and then there was a bang. He found Gornall lying in the back of the lorry. It was against the regulations for anyone to sit on the side of a vehicle, and he was particularly strict about giving instructions to that effect. In answer to Mr. Gough, witness said no seats were provided in the back of the lorry, and the men could either stand or sit on the floor. James Sweetin said he was standing in the rear of the lorry, supporting himself by a bar behind the cabin, Gornall was sitting beside him, but he did not notice whether he was sitting on the floor or on the side. Dr. J. P. Adlam, resident medical officer at the Hospital of St. Cross, said Gornall was admitted to the hospital in a shocked condition and semi-conscious, and he died at 2.45 a.m. Questioned by Dr. Gough, Dr. Adlam agreed that in his view Gornall could not have been sitting on the floor of the lorry. |