SCHOOL BUS SMASH

Grey River Argus, 6 August 1937, Page 11

SCHOOL BUS SMASH

DRIVER DISQUALIFIED Negligent Charges [Per Press Association], CHRISTCHURCH, August b. Alexander Hugh Miller, driver of the Hawarden School bus in which several children were seriously onjured on May 10, was before the Magistrate’s Court at Culverden to-day, charged with negligent driving. He was fined £7 and was ordered to pay costs. His licence was suspended, and he was prohibited from obtaining another until February 5, 1939. Miller claimed that the accident was due to the jamming of the accelerator pedal. Two charges were preferred against Miller, one ot driving negligently in Dalmeny Road, Mason’s Flat; and the second of driving without due care and attention. The charges were heard by Mr. H. A. Young, S.M. siub-Inspector D. A. Mac Lean, who prosecuted, said that, going towards the small bridge on Dalmeny Road, something went wrong, and the bus went off the road, mounting a little hill IS inches to two feet high, and then careering about 33 yards diagonally across the road, till it hit the stump of a tree. The engine of the bus was pushed back, and. considerable damage was done. Some of the children in the bus were seriously injured, one suffering a fractured skull, and others severe facial injuries. Some were still in hospital. For the defence, Mr. D. W. Russell said Miller actually used great judgment in avoiding a 40 foot chasm, into which the bus would have fallen had he not steered for the tree. “I think he was. negligent in letting the bus run up the 18 inch to two feet rise,” the Magistrate said, after hearing the evidence, and Mr. Russell’s submissions. Mr. Russell said that Miller had lost his job, and was now the groom in a stable. He suffered a broken jaw and other injuries in the acci-( dent.. Miller was ruined. The charge of driving without due care and attention was withdrawn. UNKNOWN CYCLIST KILLED. RY A TRAM. CHRISTCHURCH, August 5. A middle aged man died about 9.15 this evening in Christchurch Public Hospital from injuries received when a bicycle he was riding collided with a tram at the intersection of High Street and Tuam Street, at about 5.15 o’clock. The police are still making inquiries as to his identity. He was carrying a document bearing the name “P. Campbell,” and it is thought possible that he is a Railway employee.