MOTOR COLLISION

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 July 1936, Page 3

MOTOR COLLISION

CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. A collision between two Dodge cars, both bound' for Greymouth, at the intersection of the private road of the New Zealand Concrete Pipe Products, Ltd., and the main road, near Gladstone, on February 21, 1936, resulted in Court proceedings at Greymouth yesterday afternoon, before Mr H. Morgan, S.M. The plaintiff, Hiram Hunter, farmer (Mr T. F. Brosnan) claimed £49/3/10 damages from John Griffin, company manager, of Gladstone (Mr M. B. Janies). Plaintiff was travelling from Kumara to Greymouth about 10.30 a.m., to attend the West Coast A. and P. Show, and his speed was stated to have been not more than 30 miles per hour. He alleged that the horn of Griffin’s car was not sounded, and there was nothing to show that it was coming out of the private road,- until the front of the car emerged on to the main road. Plaintiff stated that he immediately applied his brakes. He said that Griffin did not appear to look towards him, and did not stop his car, which went across the road, with the result that plaintiff’s car struck it midway between the near front wheel and I lie near front door. One of the two women who were passengers in plaintiff's car received cuts from broken glass. Plaintiff said he told defendant that the onus was upon him to make sure that the main road was clear before he came ou,t of the private road, and the defendant replied that he was in a hurry, and thought ho could get out ahead of plaintiff.

Mr Brosnan contended that a driver emerging from a side road must give wav to traffic on the main road.

Evidence was given by Hiram Hunter, now of Christchurch, and formerly of Kumara Junction; Traffic Inspector A. E. Sloss, who took measurements at the scene of the accident; Herbert McGlashan, garage proprietor, who gave details of the damage to Hunter’s car; Mrs Dora Louisa Cook, of Kumara Junction, a passenger in plaintiff’s car; and Mrs Christina Stewart, of Kumara, the other passenger in the car. The case for plaintiff concluded at 5 p.m.. and the S.M. then adjourned the further hearing of the matter until July 28. There are two witnesses to be heard for the defence.