NOVEL EXPLANATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 144, 20 May 1939, Page 7

NOVEL EXPLANATION

CAUSE OF ACCIDENT. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 18. According to counsel in a Supreme Court action to-day the driver of a rental car which struck a telegraph post in Ferry Road on September 1 offered tho explanation that lie had sneezed his false teeth out. Before Mr Justice Northcroft and a jury of four, the owners of the car, Larges, Ltd., sued the driver, R. A. Nock, a Government inspector, for £l3B Ss 9d, tho cost of repairs to the car, £lO for 'depreciation, £2l for the loss of revenue from the car, and £5 franchise. Counsel said defendant hired the car and signed an agreement to pay all the expenses that might be incurred through his negligent driving and to compensate Larges for any depreciation. While he was driving towards the city for Sumner at about. 12.30 a.m. on September 1 the car struck a telegraph pole. Nock said he was travelling at about 35 miles an hour. After being helped out of the car by two bystanders Nock said that he would ring up the police, but did not return. When Nock saw Larges at 9 a.m. the next day he said that he had sneezed violentlv three times in quick succession, and the snoozing had caused the accident, as he had sneezed his false teeth out. Nock had not notified the police. The jury found that Nock had been negligent in bis driving, and awarded damages of £153 15s 9d to the company.