LORRY DRIVER DRUNK

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1929, Page 3

LORRY DRIVER DRUNK

CRASHED INTO TELEGRAPH POLE AUCKLAND, May 7. At 1.30 this morning residents in the neighbourhood of the dangerous bend on the main highway between Meadowbank road and Purewa Cemetery were awakened by a terrific crash. It was caused- .by ~ a six-cylinder one-ton truck striking a telephone pole so violently ins to carry away about 20 wires, all df which were smashed and twisted in all directions. It appears that the truck, .driven by a man named Blong, who uses it on contract with the Public Works Department, was going to the city with a number of men friends who had been to a dance at Orakei. The truck left the concrete and the marks show how it skidded along the rough grass at the road 4de out of control. \ , ( Mirs Cluett, in, front of whose home the .accident occurred, stated that the crash was most alarming. Leaving their beds to investigate they discovered that the lights in the house failed, but on reaching the front door and seeing the , pole it , was ifonnd that the electric light insulators which held the wires connecting the pole were torn out although 45 feet away. A number of men were on the road and on being- asked what was the matter they said a tyre had punctured. They were unable to, move the lorry. |

An adjoining resident then went in his car for help, as it was said two j of the men of the party were hurt, j Constable Mclnness, of Remuera, \ motored fo the scene of the accident j shortly after it occurred and arrested , two, John Harvey Belong (21), the j driver of the lorry, and another young man, the latter being charged in the . Magistrate's Court; with, drunkenness, i He ,was a first offender and was fined £l, ’or three clays’ imprisohment. i Wong was charged with being in a sta of intoxication while in charge of lorry. Mr Smyth appeared for | Blong, who pleaded not guilty. ; Sub-Inspector McCarthy said Blong drove a number of his companions from; a dance held at Orakei last night. They went from Orakei to Purewa camp where some of them alighted. Blong and nine others decided to go to Auckland at 1.30 this morning to have supper. “They had a considerable quantity of beer at the dance and on the way to town the lorry containing the nine men collided with a telegraph pole,” said the Sub-inspector. “The men say that a blow-out df one of the front tyres caused the accident, but we believe that the accident was due to a different kind of blow-out. They • were all more or less drunk. Bjong told, the Magistrate that he had' only one beet—a half pint in a mug, That was at;' 10.30. , , Mr Hunt: What! You .did not have gpy 'until half past , texi? . " ;

Blong: No, sir,;.;;. . “ Come now, I’Ve been young myself,; y<>b know,” said the Magistrate groidat laughter, Rlong added that he was persuaded by the others to drive them into Auckland to have some supper, in negotiating:, the bend in the road the front tvre blew, out and the lorry got out 0 f control and struck the telegraph is the third lorry driver we have had upon jr similar charge during the past few weeks,” said Mr Hunt. “Blong will lie fined £lO, or one ninth’s imprisonment, and his drivers licence will he. cancelled,, for 12

m< AccUsed was allowed one month to pay his fine. :