ACCIDENT IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29108, 21 January 1960, Page 11

ACCIDENT IN BRITAIN

Stirling Moss On Charge

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright)

LONDON, January 19 The racing driver Stirling Moss was in the act of overtaking a Rover 80 in an Austin Seven when he collied almost head-on with a van coming in toe opposite direction, the Magistrates at Newport, Shropshire, were told today. Moss, aged 30, elected to go on trial on a charge of dangerous driving, which arose out of the collison at Serpent Corner, near Newport-

He pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was sent for trial on £5O bail.

Mr D. Draycott, prosecuting, said that immediately before the collision Moss was driving in a stream of traffic headed by the Rover.

A Miss Morris was cycling along in the same direction and she would say that she was passed by the Rover and then by Moss’s car. Moss attempted to pass the Rover, but he pulled back quite properly because there was another car coming in the opposite direction.

“Then presumably on the assumption that the road ahead was clear, he again attempted to overtake and in pulling out to do so collided virtually head-on with a van coming in the opposite direction.

“This is a case where a driver is pushing on and attempting to overtake without any regard for the safety of other people who might be using that road,” Mr Draycott said. Later, Moss was seen at Newport Cottage Hospital by a police officer and made a statement in which he said he had just gone round a left hand curve when the Rover had to brake to avoid a cyclist. “At the same time the Rover pulled to his right a little. 1 braked and pulled slightly to my right side, and then I touched the Austin A 35 van with my righthand side,” he said.