MOTHER'S CLAIM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 215, 11 September 1931, Page 3

MOTHER'S CLAIM.

SON KILLED IN ACCIDENT.

MOTORIST SUED FOR £1042. The hearing of a claim for £1000 general damages and £42 special damages, arising out of the death of Douglas Harrison, aged 19, as the result of a collision between a motor cycle and motor car on the Albany Road on September 7 of last year., begun at the Supreme Court yesterday before Mr. Justice Herdman, was continued today. The plain tiff was Mabel Esther Harrison, of Albany, mother of the deceased, and the defendant Charles A. Martin, of Mount Eden, clerk. Mr. Hall Skelton appeared for plaintiff and Mr. West for defendant. Plaintiff alleged negligence and unskilful driving on the part of the defendant. Mr. Hall Skelton said that the accident happened at 5.40 p.m. Douglas Harrison was proceeding along the Albany Road and in the opposite direction to defendant, who was driving a motor car toward Auckland. Deceased was riding on his right side of the road, but it was alleged that the defendant was on his wrong side. It was alleged that as defendant just about reached the brow of the hill he saw the approaching motor cycle and attempted to cross ..to his proper side of the road, and by so doing placed the deceased in such a position that it was impossible for him to avoid the collision. The defence was a denial of the allegations made by plaintiff, and it was further contended that the deceased was riding on his wrong side of the road immediately prior to the accident, and that the accident was caused or contributed to by his negligence in failing to keep his cycle under proper control, m not keeping a reasonably vigilant and proper look-out and in riding at an excessive speed. Joseph H. Harrison, father of the deceased, said the boy was 19 years _of age at the time of his death. He worked for witness, and was paid £3. Mabel Esther Harrison, the plaintiff, said the boy was her only living son. Ho was earning £3 a week, and paid it Evidence of witnesses was then called. Opening for the defence this morning, Mr. West'eaid the case presented extraordinary features. At the time of the coronial inquiry no suggestion was made of negligence, and the coroner's verdict was one of accidental death, pure and simple. The defendant gave evidence that the cyclist was on the wrong side, and as there were holes in the road, he seemed to be picking out the good track. Witness veered over to give the cyclist plenty of room, but the deceased, although he made a final swerve to the left, was too late to avoid a collision. (Proceeding.)