Traffic Inspector William Henry Cross

Born: c1878
Years as a Traffic Inspector: six
Age: 46
Married with one son

William had worked for a number of years for the Wellington City Corporation, and transferred to traffic enforcement duties in 1918.

On Saturday evening, 26 April, the weather was rainy and windy. It had been a race day and a steady stream of cars had left the Trentham Race Course and were heading back to Wellington City via the Hutt Road (now the Old Hutt Road). A new strip of bitumen had been laid close to the Kaiwharawhara turn-off towards Ngaio, and a number of drivers were treating it like a race strip. Traffic Inspector Cross was on point duty, to slow the traffic. At dusk the traffic was still heavy, and he stood on the crown of the road. He tried to slow a speeding car by signalling to the driver, but the car struck him, leaving him severely injured with broken legs and a fractured skull.

The car stopped some metres up the road, the driver and passengers walked back to look at William, then returned to the car and drove away before police or ambulance arrived. The driver was heard to say “It wasn’t my fault!” William died three days later in Wellington Hospital.

The driver of the car consulted with his lawyer on the Monday morning after the crash. When the three passengers were interviewed by police they all stated that the driver had been asked multiple times to slow down and stop overtaking cars. They had all seen Traffic Inspector Cross on the road.

After the inquest the case was directed to the Supreme Court and the driver was charged with manslaughter. Despite the passengers all testifying in the Supreme Court concerning the driver’s dangerous driving, a pedestrian witness also gave evidence and stated that Traffic Inspector Cross was hard to see in his dark uniform and with no lights. The manslaughter charge was dismissed.

William Cross was dedicated to road safety and it was noted that he lost his life in the execution of his duty, which had as its aim the safety of the public[1].