RUNAWAY MOTORCAR

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 79, 28 December 1925, Page 7

RUNAWAY MOTORCAR

BRAKES FAIL ON DANGEROUS ROAD

DRIVER SERIOUSLY INJURED “NOTHING BUT A DEATH TRAP” As the result of the failure of the brakes of a motor-car when descending the difficult Belvedere Road, Kilbirnie, early last evening, David Robinson, the driver of the car, is lying seriously injured at the Public Hospital. The accident, which is the most serious of a number of traffic misfortunes on that particular road, is causing much concern among the residents, many of whom had no hesitation in giving their names in a vigorous demand that something be done immediately to put the road in proper order. “It is nothing but a death-trap,” said one resident last night.

It appears that the driver of the car, David McKay Robinson, residing at No. 80 Hanson Street, had carried his fares to their destination. When descending Belvedere Road, which is generally regarded by motorists as a treacherous oue to negotiate on account of its steepness, sharp bends end bad surface, he found that his ear was not answering too satisfactorily to the application of the brakes. Gathering speed as he jirocecded down towards Evans Bay, Robinson was able to keep his car under control until reaching the last bend, which is extremely steep and dangerous even for the most experienced driver. Finding that the hill at the bend was too steep to allow the brakes to hold the car, be saw that there was a likelihood of going over the bank, and, choosing what he considered the only alternative, he steered the machine into the bank. The car immediately capsized and Robinson was pinned beneath the heavy machine and lost consciousness.

Air. Young mid a son of Air. Ricksrd, both residents in the locality, were first on the scene and managed to extricate the victim. The ambulance was commissioned mid an interim examination was made bv Dr, Luke, of Kilbirnie, who recognised the case as one needing immediate medical attention. Robinson was removed to the hospital shortly after Hie accident, which happened at about 7 p.m., and it was found that he had fractured a collar-bone, as well as injuring several ribs and also one lung. Indignant Residents.

Immediately after the accident, crowds of residents gathered in the vicinity and spoke warmly about the unsafe state of the road. Belvedere Road, which leads from Overton Terrace down to Evans Bay, has been the scene of many spills and motor vehicle accidents, and residents in the vicinity, who had no hesitation in giving their names, said they intended to take immediate steps to remedy the numerous defects in the road. “It is nothing more than a death-trap.’’ said Mr. Lear.v, a resident, when speaking to a Dominion representative. “I have personally seen many accidents here, and if nothing is done soon by the controlling authorities they will be earning a wellearned stigma.” Others who wished to be associated with the movement for immediate rectification of the bad stale of the road included Messrs. Young, Rickard, and Nimiiio.

An Opportune Test.

While Air. Niinino and the motor inspector (Air. Broughton', who had also been summoned, were making an investigation at the scene of the accident, they noticed a passenger car descending the hill and decided to observe closely how it negotiated the bend. They were startled to see it skid at least ten yards, though not perhaps half so startled as the driver himself. Mr. H. Peach, who immediately alighted and gave his testimony as to the dangerous nature of the road. Adjacent to some of the bends, there arc houses below the level of the road, and in one case in particular a woman with a young baby had keen terrified lately lest a motor vehicle should crash over” the bank and come in contact with the dwelling. “I think- lam speaking for all the residents out here when I say that to allow a road like Belvedere Road to be open for traffic is a crying shame and a disgrace,” said Air. Leary.