CRASH INTO PILLAR

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 106, 7 May 1931, Page 12

CRASH INTO PILLAR

HUTT ROAD INCIDENT

CAR DRIVER FINED

Showing evidence of the. injuries he received, when he crashed into the central pillar of the new overhead railway bridge on the Hutt road on Tuesday night, Cyril George Carey, a farmer, aged 53, pleaded guilty at'the Magistrate's Court to-day to Leing intoxicated when in charge of a motor-car.

Sub-Inspector Lopdell said that the accused, who lived in the Wairarapa, had.been visiting Wellington and was on his return, journey when the accident occurred. He was followed alo.ng the- Hutt road by a Railway" bus, the driver of which reported that' the accused was driving all over the road in a very erratic manner. The car. crashed into the, central pillar at a speed estimated at 25 m.p.h.

Counsel for the accused, Mr. A. .Wiren, said he was a veteran of theSouth African "War and was reported to be a sober man, not given, to drinking. If he did have a few drinks, however, it had a rather serious effect on him. The accused, who had had only four drinks during the day, was badly dazzled by the lights of an oncoming car as he was approaching the bridge. In view of the fact that the accused had damaged his car to the extent of £120 and would be unable to recover that amount from the insurance company, Mr.-Wiren asked if a moderate fine could be fixed.

The Magistrate, Mr. E. Page:; "This man has suffered substantial monetary loss in consequence of this accident, and I take that into consideration, when fixing the fine. He will be fined £10, and his license will be suspended for six months."