RACE DAY COLLISION

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 112, 8 April 1930, Page 9

RACE DAY COLLISION

CHARGES' AGAINST DRIVER. ACCIDENT AT INTERSECTION. Charges of driving his car at a speed dangerous to the public and of failing to give way to traffic approaching from the right were brought against H. B. D’Oyley, farmer, of Kimbolton, in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., as the outcome of a collision which occurred in Palmerston North lafct Boxing Day. Mr J. Graham (Peilding) appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty. Maxwell Leigh Smith, house manager at the Napier Hospital, stated that on December 26 he was proceeding along College Street towards the racecourse on his correct side. He sounded his horn approaching the Fitzherbert Street intersection and looked to the right for approaching traffic. He then glanced to the left and the impact with' the other car occurred almost immediately in the centre of the road. He'could not estimate the speed of the other car, which struck his vehicle on the left hand side. The car driven by witness turned a sideways somersault and landed on its wheels almost alongside the telephone box. Immediately after the collision lie rang up the police. There were two' 1 passengers in defendant’s car, which had the bumper shorn off and the radiator dented in. Witness’s car was extensively damaged. Replying to Mr Graham, witness said that he was proceeding to Ngaio Street. He was not going to the racecourse, although he might have intended to do so eventually. He knew Fitzherbert Street was a main arterial road to the town, and he knew that exceptional care had to be exercised in crossing it. He could not say whether defendant veered to the left, but he was apparently travelling at an excessive speed. VVitness’s own speed at the intersection was about hfteen miles an hour. Immediately after the impact he blamed defendant for the accident. Thomas French, grocer, residing at the intersection, gave evidence that he saw the accident through the window of his shop. He saw defendant's car hit the other side- on. There was a terrific impact, but no one was hurt. The smaller car was bumped into the air, and rolled completely over on to its wheels again, , Defendant, giving evidence, stated that ho approached the corner at a speed of 20 or 25 miles an hour. He sounded his horn and looked to both sides. He saw the smaller car coming along College Street and he considered that he had ample time to cross. However, the other vehicle was coming toe fast, and defendant applied his brakes, veering to the left in order to avoid a collision. The other driver veered to the right but did not attempt to check his car in any way. The impact occurred and the other car rolled over twice. Defendant suggested that they should ring up the police. Replying to fc»ergeant Hill, defendand stated that he was going to the races, but was not in a hurry to arrive before the first race. The Magistrate: He was evidently going there eventually, like the other driver. „ _ Alfred Clinton Dawson, of ton, stated that he was a passenger in defendant’s car, which he considered was approaching the intersection at 20 or 25 miles an hour. The other car warf travelling very fast and came out of College Street like a shot out of agun. He thought the accident could have been avoided if the other driver had taken the same action as defendant and applied his brakes. He did not think that defendant was to blame. •\ •• ,"•••• His Worship stated that there was insufficient evidence to justify a conviction for speed. He was not expressing any opinion as to who was responsible for tho accident, but under the circumstanced defendant ought to have given way to the other car. He would be fined £2, with costs amounting to £3 4s, on that charge.