CHARGE FOLLOWS SMASH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 232, 1 October 1930, Page 9

CHARGE FOLLOWS SMASH.

COLLISION ON HELENS VILLE ROAD. SERVICE BUS AND MOTOR CAR. As tlio result of an accident on the Auckland-Helensvillo road on April 30, Alfred Hugh Kerr, linen importer, of Newmarket, was charged before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court this morning, wijJi failing to keep to the left. A second charge of dangerous driving was withdrawn. Defendant was convicted and ordered to pay costs. Detective Sergeant Kelly said the smash happened oh a slight incline. A White Star bus was being driven from Helensville to Auckland. The driver noticed that a car was .approaching on the wrong side of the road. He shifted over to the left as far as possible, but tho car kept to the- wrong side. The bus driver applied his brakes, but could not avoid an accident. Tho driver of the car was injured and considerable damage was done to his car. Kerr had told the driver that ho did not see the bus until it was too late. Kerr was stated to have said, "I seemed to have lost control of myself." The road was not wide, but there was plenty of room for two cars to pass. "I was driving slowly tip the incline on tho loft-hand side of the road," said Kerr. "Then I swerved to tho right to avoid some water, then back on my proper side. Twice" before this particular bus had forced me on to the grass. After the accident, when I recovered, I saw my car being shifted from the right side of the road to the wrong side." Photographs of the locality and of the damaged car were produced by Mr. Holmden, who appeared for Kerr. "There isn't much of the car left," remarked the magistrate. Mr. Holmden said that a civil action was to follow. The magistrate said that on one hand he had the evidence of the driver of the bus and passengers, and on the other ho had the statement of defendant and tho evidence of a witness who arrived after the accident. On the evidence he must convict. In view of the fact that there was a slight bend on the road near the accideut, Mr. Hunt suggested that traffic inspectors should stand on some of the country corners and prosecute drivers who drove round on the wrong side.