Fatality charge proven against Chch woman

Press, 27 March 1980, Page 5

Fatality charge proven against Chch woman

Greymouth reporter A charge against a Christchurch woman, Esther Fox, aged 56, of causing the death of Peggy Isabel Neil by carelessly using a motor car on the Main Road, Dobson, on October 12 last, was held proved by Mr F. G. Paterson, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Greymouth, yesterday. Mrs Fox, for whom Mr A. J. G. Keenan appeared, pleaded not guilty. It was stated that Mrs Fox was turning — the right in-

dicator working — from the highway down the side road towards the Dobson Railway Station where her friend, Mrs Neil, was to meet a -train, when her vehicle collided with a utility vehicle travelling from Greymouth, driven by Carl Barclay, of Blaketown.

The complainant said that the defendant’s car had turned in front of him and he was unable to avoid a collision. The defendant, however, said that she had slowed down, pulled right over to allow a tanker to

pass her, did not see any other traffic, and proceeded across the highway. She never saw the other utility vehicle. Thick, misty rain was falling, at the time. After hearing three prosecution and two defence witnesses, including the defendant, the Magistrate said that Mr Barclay’s vehicle was there to be. seen, and it was not. Mrs Fox was not entitled to proceed across the carriageway when the way was not clear. She was convicted and fined $lOO.