CAR AND CYCLE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 23 June 1927, Page 9

CAR AND CYCLE.

COLLISION ON GLOVER ROAD A point on the Glover Road in the vicinity of the Turuturu intersection was the scene of a collision between a car driven by Mr. Thomas Sheen, a commercial traveller, of Auckland, and a motor cycle and side car driven by Mr. A. Hopkirk, of Hawera, at about 7.20 p.m. last evening. Fortunately for tiie cycle rider the impact was taken by the side chair and he escaped serious injury, and after removing the damaged side car was able to continue his journey. The car had been approaching the town and Mr. Hopkirk was travelling in the opposite direction. Arising out of the incident, Sheen was arrested later last evening by Sergeant Henry on a charge of being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a car. He was subsequently released on bail. He was charged at the court before Mr. J. S Barton, S.M., this morning, when Mr. P. O’Dea requested an adjournment in order that further information might be,obtained Sergeant J. Henry objected to the case being adjourned. He stated that five witnesses for liis case' had been secured and an adjournment would be unsatisfactory, as the defendant was a resident of Auckland, and would not return to Hawera for a fortnight. The magistrate adjourned the case until this afternoon. When the case wiais called this afternoon, Mir. CVDea entered a plea of not guilty. Sergeant Henry prosecuted. Dr. W. M. Thomson stated that he bad examined the defendant at the Police Station at about 7.50 p.m. His temperature had been normal, and has pulse beat 148 per minute. His breathing was thick as the result of a cold in the head. Watness applied several tests and found that the defendant could stand erect with his heels together and eyes dosed. He admitted that he had taken some drink. His appearance suggested that he was intoxicated, but some of this might have tQ 1 some extent been due to the cold. His reasoning faculties seemed normal. Witness would not certify that the defendant was not fit to drive a car, nor would he certify that he was fit to do so. To the court, witness considered that there was slight impairment of mental ancl physical faculties. The defendant was quite sober. Examined further by the Sergeant, the doctor (admitted that he would not trust himself to be driven by the defendant. It was possible that as ?- Jesuit of the shock which followed the accident the defendant might have pulled himself together and so sobered up to some extent.

Arthur Hopkins stated that 'he had been proceeding towards Normanhy along the Glover Road, travelling on a motor cycle and side chair, just behind a motor car. When near the isaleyards, witness saw two cars approaching. The first pasised safely, hut the second appeared to be following an erratic course. The car approached om its wrong side 'and witness slackened speed, but the car changed over to its correct side, hut immediately went back to the wrong side and drove straight for witness. Seeing that he could not avoid a collision witness swung the machine around SO that the side car would receive the impact. The car struck the machine and parried it some distance. After the collision witness demanded of the driver the reason for his driving on the wrong side of the road and “what he was going to do about it,” but the defendant would not- converse. It seined that he was stupified with drink, and when the defendant gQ't out of his car his appearance seemed to confirm the suspicion. Witness went away to telephone the police, but while lie was away he heard, a car start and saw the defendant drive off in the direction of Hiawena. The car had been extricated from the side chair of the motor cycle. Witness secured assistance from the driver of another car and followed tlie defendant, hut lost sight of the car. Sergeant Henry was picked up at the Police Station and the oar was seen in Caledonia Street, where the Sergeant requested the defendant to walk ill the light. He was unable to walk steadily and the Sergeant arrested him. "When the defendant got out <jf the car after the accident he had staggered and w!»s unsteady on hi feet. In the opinion of witness defendant was not .in'a, fit state to drive -a oar. Cross-examined by Mr. O'Dea, witness stated that defendant had been travelling lait 'between 25 to 30 miles an hour. Witness was merely going at a walking pace when the accident occurred.

Called by Mr o'’Dea, Dr. J. McGhie Stated that he had examined the defendant at about 9.20 p.m. His face had been flushed as a result of a severe cold in the head. Defendant was able to walk normally along a. chalk line and there was no swing when standing on both feet together and singly, alternately. When asked where he had been defendant had said that he Mad driven a friend home down a mud road. There was no suspicion of liquor in his breath. Defendant stated that he had had two drinks early in the afternoon. Hiis mental faculties were quite normal. Witness did not consider it possible for