RECKLES'S DRIVING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 283, 3 November 1925, Page 2

RECKLES'S DRIVING.

WEDDING PARTY’S ESCAPE. HAMILTON CULPRIT FINED. HAMILTON, Oct. 30. “You are clearly guilty of reckless driving,” said Mr F. W. Platts, S.M., in fining a young man, Maurice Tombs, £5 with costs £3 10s, to-day for failing to keep a vigilant lookout when ajiproaclimg a railway crossing. In pleading guilty on behalf of Tombs Mr Strang said defendant had been attending a wedding and was at the timo of the accident driving tlie bridesmaids and several of the guests to the Frankton Junction station. When the car was about 40 yards from tho Lake road crossing a motor-lorry went over the rails with a rattling noise and raising a great quantity of dust. Defendant was prevented by the lorry driver, who was really the blameworthy party, from observing tho approach of the train. He did not notice tho express until it was too late, and he did the best thing possible under the circumstances by swerving sharply to the right to avoid running into the train. The car ran into a telegraph post and overturned, but fortunately the occupants escaped with a few scratches. The Crown Solicitor, Mr Gillies, corroborated the statement concerning the lorry by remarking that everything .possible had been done to trace the driver, but without success. The magistrate said that, notwithstanding the presence of the lorry, defendant had failed to observo the ordinary precautions. He had, in fact, nearly brought about a serious accident.