Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 29 July 1932
Killed On Road
Conisboro’ Child’s Sudden Dash
Mr. W. H. Carlile on Friday held an inquest at the Fullerton Hospital, Denaby, on Lily Croft, aged three, daughter of Joseph Croft. glass worker, 21, Athelstone Road, Conisboro’, the victim of a road accident on the Sheffield-Doncaster road at Conisboro, on July 13th.
The child went with other children to a pond near the main road. Two cars and a motor-cycle were travelling along the toad in the same direction, when the child ran into the road and was knocked down and fatally injured by the first car.
Thomas Challoner clerk, 10, Lincoln Street, Brightside, who was riding in the second car, said the first car was travelling at not more than 20 miles an hour and was well in to the left side. He saw a child suddenly run out from an opening in the wall and into the path of the car. The driver had no chance to avoid a collision , but he almost overturned the car in the attempt. The car was only a few feet away when the child ran out.
Percy Harris, meter engineer, Effingham Street, Rotherham, the driver of the first car, said he was well into the side of the road, because he expected the second car to pass him. There was no kerb or pavement. He suddenly saw the child appear near the front near side of his car. So violently did he apply his brakes and swerve that he had to release them again or the car would have overturned. Harris, who lied only one leg, was questioned by the Coroner as to his ability to control the car. Harris replied that he was testing and driving cars every day and had driven since 1904 without an accident.
P.c. Brownless, of the motor patrol, who was driving the motor-cycle behind the two cars, said both of them were travelling at reasonable speed.
The returned a verdict of “Accidental death,’ attaching no blame to the driver.