JOY RIDER KILLED IN MIDNIGHT CRASH

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3265, 8 February 1926, Page 7

JOY RIDER KILLED IN MIDNIGHT CRASH

Motor Car Strikes I, tram Head-on

COMPANION FINED FOR DRUNKENNESS

[Per Press Association.] , AUCKLAND, February 6.

A fatality occurred at Onehunga a few minutes before midnight last night as the result of a collision between a tram-car and a motor car.

Leonard Charles Vincent, junior, of Layard street, Avondale, driver of the motor car, was killed.

Frank Lovelock, the only other occupant of the car, was uninjured. The collision occurred at the , bend in Lower Queen street, about 500 yards above the Mangere Bridge. The tramcar was proceeding to the Onehunga terminus and when rounding the bend met the motor car, coming toward the town, in a head-on collision. The motor car was reduced almost to wreckage, one side being stripped right off, one front wheel torn oft and the front severely battered about. The front of the tramcar was slightly damaged and the step was torn away. The driver of the motor car suffered the full force of the impact, and death must have been 'practically in, stantaneous. The driver of a passing motor cat 1 took him to Dr. Griff ins surgery, but he was dead before the doctor saw him. Lovelock was thrown out of the cox and his escape from Injury was miraculous. He was subsequently arrested The'motorman of the tram, Mr F. McDermott, states that bis car was moving slowly at the bend. The motor oar, he says, swung round the corner at a fast pace and crashed into the front of the tram, which by then had almost stopped. Not Driving own Car.

Leopard Charles Vincent. who was killed in the Onehunga collision, re* sided at Avondale. His father states that he did not know whose car* his son was driving. IDs own car was at home, , ' The car was, owned by Charles Simpson, land agent, of Auckland- It was parked in Elliot street at B.SO p.m, and disappeared before 10.10 p.m It was a* new car and was uninsured. Lovelock was arrested and charged with drunkenness, Both Had Some "Spots." Lovelock was charged in the Onehunga police court with drunkenness. Sergeant Cruickshonk said the police found defendant drunk on Fridas night and later learned he;had, been concerned in a motor smash. Lovelock,told the court' that, whoiit a o'clock on Friday evening i Vlncent. whom he knew only by sight, asked him to go for a drive In a motor car. They started from Victoria street in the city and Vincent said that they might go as far as Papakura. When defendant got In the car he found some drink and they both had some spots. He remembered being thrown from the car when the accident occurred, but could remember no more. He was a barman by occupation, but was at present out of work. Lovelock had a deep cut on the right side of his face, and gave his address as 10 Dominion road, Auckland. He was convicted and fined 10/- on the charge of drunkenness. An Inquest touching the death of Leonard Charles Vincent was opened before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., Deceased was a single man and would have been 21 years of age next month. He was a motor-tractor driver employed by the Avondale Borough Council, Evidence of Identification was taken and the Inquest adjourned sine die. 1