FATAL ACCIDENT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 107, 8 May 1941, Page 3

FATAL ACCIDENT

DRIVER IN DOCK

VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY

Sequel to a motor accident on Tamaki Drive, near the railway overhead bridge, on January 16. Frederick Williams (IS) was charged before Mr. Justice Fair and a jury in the Supreme Court to-day that he negligently drove a motor car, causing the death of YV. K. Taylor. The accused was defended by Mr. Rr.vce Mart, and the prosecution was conducted by Mr. V. R. Meredith, who said that apart from the statement of accused himself, there was little evidence of the real facts. A car had been rented by a young man who went in it to a dance in town, and there met accused and another young man. After 9 p.m. the three drove the car to Mission Bay and were returning when it went against a telegraph pole and one of the young men. Taylor, was so badly injured that he died 15 days later in hospital. In a statement" Williams said that as the others were sleepy lie vn= driving the car on the return. Approaching the turn-off at the bridge he noticed that Taylor, on the seat beside him. was asleep, lie glanced back to see the other man. Delaney. was asleep on the back seat, and was just turning to look ahead again when there was a blur and a crash, as the ear collided with a telegraph pole at the side of the load. Evidence would show that there was little traffic, a clear, wide road, and good visibility; consequently the accident must have been caused by the driver's negligence. After evidence to this effect. Mr. Hart said no evidence would be called in defence. He addressed the jury suggesting that the accident must have been caused by something having gone wrong with the steering gear. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty.