LESSON IN DRIVING

Evening Star, Issue 23129, 1 December 1938, Page 6

LESSON IN DRIVING

SMASH ON RAILWAY GROSSING TPer United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 30. It would bo difficult to imagine a more unfortunate set of circumstances, said Mr T. P. M'Carthy in the Petone Court to-day when entering a plea of guilty for Sydney Frank Trask, who was charged with failing to keep a vigilant look-out for approaching trains and attempting to cross the railway line when it was not clear, failing to carry a warrant of fitness, and driving without due care and attention. After Senior-sergeant H. C. D. Wade had outlined the facts of the collision between the defendant’s ear and a railcar on October 4, Mr M'Carthy said his client had bought the car in Wellington and the firm which sold him the car sent two men out with him. One man drove as far as Ngahauranga and then the defendant took the wheel, as he had not driven for 11 years and wanted a lesson. The defendant stopped at the Petone railway crossing, and he said that at the time" the warning bells were not ringing. He was told to go on again, and when the bells started to ring he maintained that the man who was teaching him to drive told him to go back. A collision occurred, the car being a complete wreck, and the defendant had to spend a week in hospital. He was now faced with a substantial bill for damage to the* railcar which struck him. He had lost the car, on which he had paid £SO off the purchase price when he took it over. The defendant was fined 10s and costs by Mr A. M. Colliding, S.M., for driving without duo care and attention, and ordered to pay the costs for failing to carry a warrant of fitness. The other charge was withdrawn.