WOMEN’S ACTION COMMENDED

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27641, 23 April 1955, Page 9

WOMEN’S ACTION COMMENDED

ASSISTED OCCUPANTS FROM BURNING CAR

The actions of a woman driver in extracting two persons from a burning car when the truck she was driving caught fire after being involved in a collision with the car was commended by Mr Rex C. Abernethy, S.M., and Sub-Inspector J. C. Fletcher, in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. In the court, Esme Joyce Green was charged with negligently driving a car on the Main West road on December 5, 1954. She pleaded guilty to the charge and was convicted and fined £4 and her driving licence was suspended for 28 days. She was represented by Mr R. E. Wyllie. Sub-Inspector Fletcher said that at 1.50 a.m. on December 5, Mrs Green said she was driving along the Main West road with the headlights of her car in the dipped position. At the time, she said she was travelling at 40 miles an hour when she ran into the back of a small truck travelling in the same direction. The truck was driven by Mrs Winifred Marie McQueen. The impact fractured the petrol tank of the truck and petrol was sprayed over both vehicles. Mrs Green’s car cannoned off the truck, struck a power pole, turned over and burst into flames. Mrs McQueen’s truck carried on for some distance, turned over, and also burst into flames.

‘Mrs McQueen immediately ran over to the other burning car and helped the two passengers out,” said Sub-Inspector Fletcher. “It was just as well she did for otherwise Mrs Green and her passenger might have been burned to death. Mrs McQueen must be commended for rendering this great service to the public,” he said. Mr Wyllie also paid a tribute to Mrs McQueen. Mrs Green and her passenger were dazed and unconscious in the car and could have been burned to death. The explanation for the accident was that a line of cars was travelling towards Mrs Green and she had to dip her lights frequently. While she had the lights dipped the accident occurred. •. “As the Sub-Inspector said, the driver of the truck is to be commended for her quick action for preventing what could have been a disaster,” said the Magistrate. He said he considered that if the defendant had to drive with dipped lights in the face of several oncoming cars she should not have been travelling at 40 miles an hour. Later Mrs McQueen was charged with having no driving licence and with having no warrant of fitness for the truck. Mr B. A. Barrer, who appeared for Mrs McQueen, said she was driving a borrowed truck. The truck was a write-off. Not having a vehicle of her own she had not renewed her driving licence, nor did she know that the truck did not have a warrant of fitness. Mr Barrer: She is a married woman with seven children .... The Magistrate: She has suffered enough. On both charges she is convicted and discharged.