BIG DAMAGES CLAIMED

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 109, 10 May 1932, Page 9

BIG DAMAGES CLAIMED

MOTOR COLLISION

WAIRARAPA ACTIONS

In the Supreme Court yesterday, before his Honour Mr. Justice Blair and a jury,hearing began of three actions for damages arising out of a motor-car collision on the road between Carterton and Masterton, which, resulted in one death and in several being injured. The parties in the actions were:—Thomas Francis Grose y. Eobert George Coulston and another, a claim for £1000 damages for injuries received; Eobert George Coulston v. William John Grose, a claim for £1803 damages; William. John Grose vy Eobert George Coulstori, a claim, for £3000 damages. It was agreed that the three actions be heard together. : '. Counsel for Coulston said that all the cases arose out of a motor accident on 22nd August, 1931, on the.Master-ton-Carterton road, at. a spot about half-way between the two towns. v It was about 5.30 p.m., "betweenlights," some cars being lighted, so;ne not. Coulston .was driving north,.Grose souths Coulston contended'that he was driving on the correct aide.of the road at a reasonable pace, 30 or 32 miles an hour. Perhaps the1 most important point for the jury would be whether the collision occurred on Coulston's or on ftrone's side of the road. For Grose it would be alleged that Coulstoa was negligent in his steering'- and in not keeping a proper look-out. Coulston would admit iaving had three drinks.at the Taratahi hotel over a considerable period of the afternoon. Evidence would be called that he was sober when he left the hotel. There had been a criminal trial in which a charge was made against Coulston, but Coulston was acquitted. •Dr. J. Forsyth described the injuries sustained by Coulston. There was a severe fracture of the base of the skull, loss of, hearing'in'the right ear, and other injuries. Witness did not notice any signs of liquor. There had been only a slight improvement in his health j-during the past three months. ' Witness also attended William John Grose I after the accident.' He described the (injuries sustained by Grose;.they were not so serious as those suffered by. Coulston. Grose,, junior, aged 9 years, who was in the car Tvith his father, suffered extensive injuries, and shock. ' John Burns, whose residence is near j the scene of the accident, said he heard j the impact of the cars. He went -to I the spot. Coulston's car was on its proper side facing Masterton (northward) at a very slight angle, one back wheel just off the bitumen. Grosa's car" was on the other side of the road, in ■'&• similar position;- also-facing Mas-' tei'ton. Grose was in the driver's seat •of his car, and his wife was in -the other front seat; she was dead. The1 boy Grose and a woman were lying on the grass on the side of the road.

; Alexander BurnSj son of the last witness, gave similar evidence.

■When.the case Was continued to-day, Clarence, Guy. Charles Wagg, a motor engineer, of 'Masterton,. gave evidence as to the damage and value of the cars. He said he was firmly of the opinion that Grose's car was being driven on .the wrong side,of the road, ana that it struck Coulston's car. Grose's car then pivoted around on to its correct side of tho road agairi, facing the opposite way it.was going. ' '

1 . (Proceeding.)