SEQUEL TO COLLISION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 256, 26 September 1933, Page 8

SEQUEL TO COLLISION

ACCIDENT NEAR AWAHURI. CLAIM FOICDAMAGES. The sequel to a motor collision on the evening of May 14 last, on the strip of road between the foot of Mt. Stewart and Awahuri township, was heard in the Magistrate’s Court before Mr J'. L. Stout, S.M., to-day, when Mrs M. A. Collier, of PalmerSton •North, claimed £lsl 12s lOd from H. Dustin, junr., of Wanganui. Plaintiff alleged that defendant, in driving his car, which had collided with a delivery van which she owned, had been on the wrong side of the road, travelling at an excessive speed, and failed to steer clear. Mr A. J. McLeuvey appeared for plaintiff and Mr H. R. Cooper for defendant. Evidence was given by Walter Charles Collier, pastrycook, of Palmerston North, the husband of plaintiff, that on May 14, with his wile, daughter and Miss Pettigrew, he left Wanganui, which he had been visiting, at about 7 p.m. He drove down Mt. Stewart and just before he reached the bridge at the bottom he saw the lights of an approaching car. He was changing into second gear over two chains from the brow of the wave in the road when defendant, who was oil the wrong side when he came into view, came hurtling over the top. Witness had his left-hand wheels well oil the gravel. The bitumen was 17 feet wide', with 4ft. of metal to 2ft. of grass which fell away. Defendant was still on the wrong side of the road when a collision occurred, liis right hand wheel collided with that of witness’s vehicle. Defendant’s car was not in sight but was later found to have gone over tho bank and finished up on the edge of a lagoon. Witness had no possible chance of avoiding the collision and was struck almost lull on at the righthand front wheel. There were seven persons in defendant’s car, and there was no suggestion whatever that there was any drink. Defendant had not directly admitted liability in a subsequent conversation, hut had suggested that they should let the insurance companies fight the matter out. Plaintiff claimed £l3 7s 4d for loss of business, £ls for hire of a car pending repairs to the van, and £SO for general damages. Cross-examined, witness said marks on the road after the accident revealed the course of both cars. Witness was not travelling fast, and lie emphatically denied that both curs were in the middle of the road. Grass and gravel were removed from his left-hand tyre after the collision.

Evidence was given by William R. Bingham, foreman mechanic for Campbell Motors, Ltd., concerning the damage to the crankshaft of plaintiff’s van. The cylinder block was also cracked and had to be welded. Corroborative evidence of the accident was given by Mrs Maud Alice Collier, plaintiff, who said the van was practically at a standstill well over on the correct side when the collision occurred.

Hazel Jean Pettigrew, a passenger in the van, also gave evidence. She said defendant’s car was obviously on the wrong side of the road. Proceedings were then adjourned until 2.15 p.m.