Constable For Trial On Four Traffic Charges

Northern Advocate, 27 April 1940, Page 10

Constable For Trial On Four Traffic Charges

r per Press Association. Copyright ] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. As a sequel to an accident in Christchurch on February 3, a police constable, Leonard Cook, appeared in court on four charges—negligent driving causing bodily injury, dangerous driving, attempting to pass a truck within 30 feet of an intersection, and exceeding 30 miles an hour in the city. Cook pleaded not guilty. A carrier, James Lee, said that when turning from Linwood Avenue into Dyer’s Road a car cut in front of him on the right hand side. He swerved to the left, but the car’s mudguard touched his bumper. He estimated the speed of the car at 70 miles per hour, and the speed of his truck 8 to 10 miles per hour. Somersaulted Five Times. The car veered to the left in the impact, then swung to the right and somersaulted five times. It stopped 540 feet from the intersection. He found Cook lying about two feet from the car and a young woman and a young man were also lying there. All were injured. Other witnesses gave evidence as to the car’s speed, one saying it was 70 miles per hour and another the fastest he had ever seen a vehicle travel. Cook was committed to the Supreme court for trial. He was granted bail in his own recognisance of £IOO.