MOTORISTS' DUTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 109, 10 May 1928, Page 8

MOTORISTS' DUTY.

IN PASSING TRAMCARS. NEGLIGENT DRIVING CHARGE FARMER FINED £2. "The defendant comes from thft country. Country motorists often do not appreciate pace in the city. Their duty is to be ready for anything that might happen in. the street," said Mr. F. K Hunt, S.M., at the Police Court yesterday afternoon in imposing a fine of £2 and costs upon Alfred McLeod, a Helen sville farmer, on a charge of negligent driving. The charge arose out of an accident in Karangahape Road at 6.20 p.m. on March 20. William Frederick Stuart, of Grey Lynn, after alighting from a tramcar, was struck by McLeod's car, and he died in the hospital on April 2, Accused was charged with negligent driving so as to cause Stuart's death. The medical evidence given was that death was due to uraemia, which might have been caused by the injury. The inquest was held in conjunction with the charge against McLeod. After hearing considerable evidence, Mr. Hunt said that the. circumstances of the case did not warrant him sending McLeod for trial at the Supreme Court, and thus involving the country in a jjreat deal of expense. It was evident that deceased had hurried from the tramcar before it actually stopped, while McLeod considered that he° could pass the tram while it was slowing down. In any case it was not certain that death was caused b. the accident. The charge against McLeod was then reduced to one of negligent driving, and evidence called by Mr. G. P. Finlay, who appeared for McLeod, was taken. On the minor charge, Mr. Hunt imposed a fine of £2 and costs. As coroner, he returned a verdict that death was the result of uraemia.