THRILL EOS FIREMEN

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 120, 23 May 1930, Page 11

THRILL EOS FIREMEN

ENGINE "CUTS FIGURE EIGHT"

There was a big difference of opinion between the driver of a small car and two firo brigadesmen,' called to give evidence in the Magistrate's dourt yesterday afternoon, as to the swer'vo that had to be made to avoid the- car by a fire engino, travelling up Cuba street on its way to a fire in Abel Smith street one day last month. The firemen' said that the fire engine missed the- ear by inches and that it was a miracle there was not a serious accident. With this the driver of the car, Geoffrey A. Blundell, sales manager for Cycle and Motor Supplies, Ltd., did not agree. He said there was twelve feet to spare. At any rate, it was clear that the manoeuvre made by the firo engine gave the brigadosmen aboard an extra thrill in their day's work. , .' The defendant, who was represented by Mr. R. L. Cressweli, pleaded not guilty to charges of negligent driving and of having failed to stop on tho approach of tho firo engine. Firomnn-Driver J. L. de Winter Said that when he was driving the fire engine up Cuba.street to. a fire in Abel Smith street a small ear driven by. the defendant cut across in front of him at the Ghuzneo street intersection. The fire engine was travelling about 30 miles an homy and to avoid a collision had to bo swerved sharply. It was a miracle that he missed the defendant's car. Station Officer A. M'Jennett said he was sitting alongside the driver, and he was iv charge of! the engine, the siren of which had been sounded all the way since leaving the iiro station. To avoid tho defendant tho firo engine "cut a figm;o eight." , The defendant, aaid ho thought tho statement that the fire engine had just missed, him was a gross exaggeration. He was driving down bqhind a.motor van and he did not see- the fire engino until ho had commenced to turn across tho intersection. He considered that the best thing to do Tinder the circumstances was to continue on, and he did so. In his opinion, tho fire engine missed him by twelve feet.

'.flic Magistrate (Mr. W. H. Woodward) said ho was satisfied that an emergency position had arisen and that tlio dofondant really was not negligent. It was clear, however, the- defendant, whether negligently or not, had disobeyed' the regulations requiring him to stop, but under tho circumstances, although ho did so with some hesitation, ho thought ho should treat tho oll'ciico as a minor one. Tho charge wo- 'd be dismissed on payment of costs and witnesses' cxponses, £1 10s.