Accident At Ruakaka Has Sequel In Court

Northern Advocate, 19 July 1938, Page 3

Accident At Ruakaka Has Sequel In Court

As the outcome of a motor collision on the Whangarei-Waipu road on January 23. in which several people wore injured, six charges were hoard in the Magistrate's Conn yesterday morning before Mr G. N. Morris, S.M., who reserved hits decision. Consell Grace Hayter was charged that, at Ruakaka, she drove a motor vehicle without having a driver’s license, and in a dangerous and negligent manner. Frederick Craddock Williams was charged with counselling Miss Hayter to drive without a license in a dangerous and negligent manner. Collision ox Bridge. Richard Patterson, of Grey Lynn, motor body builder, stated that be drove his car. a 1924 model .Austin 12. on tiic main Auckland highway . When he was about half-way across a bridge at Ruakaka. another car, which had pulled in at the side of the bridge, suddenly shot cut on to the bridge. Witness applied his hand and foot brakes, but a collision occurred about two-thirds of the way across the bridge. Witness’ speed had been about 15 m.p.h. As a result of the collision, ' witness’ wife and a woman passenger were injured. Witness had spoken to Williams, who said he would take the blame for what had occurred. Cross-examined by Mr R. K. Trimmer, who appeared for the defence, witness said the repairs to his car had cost ,L6O. The impact was a severe one. Williams’ car had not been travelling rapidly. The magistrate: Then how do you account for the severe impact? It takes speed to make an impact. Witness:- I had no bumper on my

Maude L. SliJburn. widow, of Wellington. a passenger m the back scat of Patterson’s car. gave similar evidence. Blame Admitted. Miss Stilbum, daughter of the previous witness, said that she had sat behind tine driver. Williams' car had been travelling at a moderate speed. Williams had admitted the blame after tiie accident. Constable Rimmcr. of Waipu. staled j that he went to the scene of the acciI dent. Williams said he was teaching j Miss May ter to drive. She was going to stop and let Patterson’s ear pass. He had told her to go ahead. Miss Haylcr had hold a driver’s license, but did not have one at the time of the accident. A. Manson, motor engineer employed by the Public Works Department, said he examined Mr Patterson’s car and found the hand brakes practically useless. Sydney Decide, motor engineer, of Wbangarei, who had also examined the car. said he found that there was no pressure on the brake bands, although the hand brake might be effective on the road. Fine for No License. Mr Trimmer explained that Miss Hay ter would plead guilty to driving without a license, but that none or the other five allegations would be admitted. A fine of £l. with 10/- costs, was inflicted on Miss Haytor for driving without a license, and decision was reserved on the other charges. ,