DRIVER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23812, 4 December 1942, Page 7

DRIVER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

RANGIORA CROSSING FATALITY

In the Magistrate’s Court at Rangiora yesterday. Mrs Nancy Eldred Haack, of C 9 Wainui street, Riccarton, was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court on a charge of negligently driving a motoicar in High street. Rangiora, on October 13, 1942, thereby causing the death of Mrs Ann Lillian Spcyicer. Bail was allowed in the accused’s own recognisance of £SO. Thomas Edward Daly, crossingkeeper at the time of the accident, gave evidence that when the train arrived at Rangiora from Christchurch about 6.20 p.m. he was standing practically in the centre of the road witn the “Stop” sign displayed. The warning bells at the crossing were ringing and the train whistled. He saw the car, which was driven by Mrs Haack, about three chains away travelling towards the line. When next he noticed it, the car was proceeding at a very reasonable pace about, 10 yards fiom him. He called out to the driver to stop. She applied the brakes, stopping the vehicle, which then appeared to roll on to the first rail of the railway line. , Montague Pollard, motor mechanic, who examined the car after the accident. said that because of oil from the differential impeding the efficiency ol the brakes, considerable weight would be necessary on the pedal to stop the car. TT i, A statement taken from Mrs Haack was produced by Sergeant C, George. It stated that when she saw the cross-ing-keeper she applied the foot brake, which would not act, so she applied the hand brake. Had the brake been in its usual state, she felt sure that she could have stopped the cai clear of the line. Dr A L. Haslam, who appeared for Mrs Haack, did not call evidence. Mr F. F. Reid. S.M., was on the Bench.