HIT A TAXI.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 238, 7 October 1936, Page 3

HIT A TAXI.

ACCIDENT IN CITY. DRIVER SENT TO HOSPITAL. LICENSE ENDORSED. A bricklayer, Stanley Edward Morgan, who recently spent over two weeks ill hospital following a motor smash in Queen Street, appeared on summons in the Police Court this morning, when he pleaded guilty to a charge of negligent driving. Sub-Inspector Fox said that at 8 p.m. on Saturday, August S, Morgan and a companion left a billiard room in Queen Street and drove in defendant's citr to Karangaliape Road, where Morgan discovered he had forgotten his overcoat. He turned his car round and drove down Queen Street to Customs Street, where he turned and drove up Queen Street again, stopping at the billiard room to pet the overcoat. He then drove up to Wellesiey Street. "Witnesses who have been subpoenaed amT who saw the car travelling down Queen Street state that their attention was attracted by the speed of the car, which they estimated at between 35 and 40 miles per hour," said Mr. Fox. "They also say it narrowly avoided colliding with two other motor cars. At the intersection of Wellesiey Street a taxi was about to cross, going in the same direction as Morgan's car. The taxi eased up to allow righthand traffic to pass, and as it was moving off slowly Morgan's car crashed into the back of the taxi, causing it to run across the intersection at a fast pace." The taxi was seriously damaged. Immediately after the impact defendant's car swung round in a circle across Queen Street. Some damage was done to Morgan's car, Morgan himself being thrown out and rendered unconscious. Both he and his companion sustained injuries which necessitated their removal to hospital, where Morgan remained for 16 days. Morgan had some liquor, but to what degree he was affected could not be ascertained owing to the injuries he suffered. He said lie only had two drinks. "This offence is more than usually serious of its kind," said the sub-inspector. "It was lucky for him that the results were not more serious." Morgan was fined £3 and his driver's license was endorsed, jfrr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., remarked that he imposed a light penalty owing to the injuries and the expenses sustained by Morgan.