CYCLIST’S DEATH NEAR RAKAIA

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26855, 7 October 1952, Page 9

CYCLIST’S DEATH NEAR RAKAIA

CHARGE AGAINST TAXIDRIVER DISMISSED A charge against Harry Alford Cromie, a taxi-driver, of Rakaia (Mr C. S. -Thomas) bi- negligently driving a motor vehicle and thereby causing death was dismissed by Mr E. A, Lee, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Ashburton yesterday. Senior-Sergeant C. H. Reardon said the charge arose from an accident which occurred on the main road about a mile and a half south of Rakaia on July 25. A car driven by Cromie had hit a cyclist when attempting to overtake. The cyclist, a Dutch immigrant named Gerandus Gysbertus Alkemade, had died in hospital. Constable H. White, of Christchurch, said that he had tested the par, a 1951 model with a mileage of 747, and found it to be in perfect mechanical condition. The car had stopped without any skid marks in a distance of 35 feet when driven at a speed of 30 mlies an hour.

Frank Morcan, a gardener, of Dorie, said he had engaged Cromie to take him from Rakaia to his home. He had not seen a cyclist before the accident, and estimated Cromie’s speed at between 20 and 25 miles an hour. Constable A. J. Adams, of Rakaia, said the collision had occurred on a clear moonlight night. The cycle (produced) was only slightly damaged and was properly equipped. t Mr Thomas said there was no evidence whatsoever to show that Cromie had driven in a negligent way. The damage to the cycle showed that the cyclist Inust have been on an angle, and it had been proved that Cromie was well to the correct side of the road. That he had been driving at a reasonable speed was shown by the fact that he could pull up in 41 feet. “For the prosecution to succeed the establishment of negligence must be proved,” said the Magistrate. “That an accident happened does not prove anything.”