ALLEGED NEGLIGENT DRIVING

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 185, 3 May 1929, Page 10

ALLEGED NEGLIGENT DRIVING

SEQUEL TO DEATH OF CHILD YOUTH BEFORE COURT By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, May 2. On a charge of negligently driving a motor-car on April 19, causing the death of Diana Victoria Menzies, aged three years, Francis Clarence Beresford Power, aged 18, was to-day committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Evidence was given that the child was following her elder sister across the road when she was run over by a car, which was stated to be travelling at 25 to 40 miles an hour, and which did not stop after the accident. Sir Graeme Lockhart, who was riding a motor-bicycle some distance behind, said he recognised the car as belonging to Power, who was his cousin. He set out in pursuit of it, but after stopping to inform some workmen of the accident, he lost sight of the car. Mabel Francis Dudson, a passenger 'in Power’s car, and she thought the child had got safely over. She could not say at what speed they were going, but she knew it was not great, as she got nervous in cars. The car was then driven to Power’s home, and after he had put in some more benzine they drove back to Lucerne Road, although they had got no message regarding an accident. Seeing a crowd of people at Mr. Menzies’ home, they went in to see if there had been any mishap. Results of a test of the car carried out on Lucerne Road were detailed by a constable, who said the hand-brake on the car was useless. Using the footbrake. the car 'at 20 miles an hour took 19 yards to pull up.. The car ran 17 yards without skidding, pnd skidded the last two yards. The foot-brake was in fair order, but was slow to act. A verdict that the cause of the child’s death was a fracture of the skull caused by being knocked down and run over by a car driven by Powei was returned at the inquest, which was held simultaneously with the hearing of the charge..