Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 31 May 1941

Head-On Crash

Soldier Killed near Goldthorpe

The Doncaster District Coroner (Mr. W. H. Cathie), recorded a verdict of “Accidental Death” at an inquest at the Buxton Arms, Goldthorpe. on Tuesday, on Signaller Frederick Walter Tudgay 1331, whose home is at Bath. and who was fatally injured when his motor cycle collided with a private car in Doncaster Road, Goldthorpe, on Saturday.

Mr. W. B. Liversidge, solicitor appeared for the driver of the car; Mr. C. D. Burgess (Messrs. Taylor and Capes’. represented the Army: Inspector Waugh represented the police. and an Army Officer was also present.

Sergt. John Vitale identified the body.

An Army medical officer said when he went to the scene of the accident he found Tudgay lying in the hedge bottom by the roadside. He was dead, and had a fractured skull, a wound in the neck, and a compound fracture of the left thigh. From the dead man’s position and the looseness of his head, witness also assumed that he had a broken neck. The cause of death, which was instantaneous, was shock due to multiple injuries.

P.c. H. Tomlinson found the man lying in the gutter about eight feet from the nearside kerb. He found a motor cycle about eight feet from the side of the road, and a car 22 feet on the Doncaster side of the motor cycle. on its correct side of the road. The front nearside of the car was Eft. 6ins. from the kerb, and the offside was 9ft. 6ins. from the offside grass verge. The motor cycle was badly damaged and the front axle of the car was broken and the wheels wrenched off.

In reply to the Coroner, witness said he assumed that the motorcyclist had attempted to take the bend forty yards past the car at an excessive speed, and had struck the car.

Replying to Inspector Waugh, witness said there was no damage on the offside of the car.

After being cautioned, the car driver, Harry John Cox, collier, of 55, Doncaster Road, Goldthorpe, said he was travelling at about 25 m.p.h. along Doncaster Road about 50 yards from the Doncaster side of Pickhills Avenue, when he saw a motor cycle approaching. Witness saw the man come round the bend and that he would be unable to take it. Then the cyclist came straight for witness’s car and struck the nearside front mudguard. The motor cycle glanced off after the collision and continued down the nearside of the car. The car was moving very slowly when the impact occurred.

In reply to the Coroner, witness said there would have been plenty of room for the man to go through had he kept to his proper side. Inspector Waugh: Did you ever leave your own side of the road?  Witness: No, sir.

Inspector Waugh: Did you have any chance to avoid him? Witness: No. sir. It was over in a flash.

The Inspector: What did you do when you saw him? Witness: I braked. That was all I could do.

The coroner recorded a verdict as stated.