NEGLIGENT DRIVING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19621, 27 April 1927, Page 15

NEGLIGENT DRIVING.

TAKAPUNA BUS PROPRIETOR.

COLLISION NEAR WAITARA.

SUSPENSION OF LICENCE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday. A bus proprietor, Alfred Henry Smith, of Takapuna, was fined £5 and had his licence suspended for six months by Mr. R. W. Tate,. S.M., in the Waitara Magistrate's Court to-day. Smith failed to appear to answer charges of driving negligently on the New Ply mouth-Waitara highway on February 20 and driving in a manner dangerous to the public. Ihe two charges arose out of a collision between Smith's bus and two men on a motorcycle on an open bend at the foot of Big Jim's Hill, near Waitara. As a result of the accident T. White, one of the cyclists, had to have his right leg amputated and he is still in hospital. The rider of the motor-cycle, Henry George White, farmer, of Urenui, said his brother was riding on the carrier of his cycle. At the bottom of the hill he observed the bus coming down. It had pulled over to its wrong side and witness rode his machine off the paved surface as far over on to the sand as he could with safety. The mudguard of the bus struck his handle bar and some other part struck his right leg and hi 3 brother's leg. The bus stopped and the driver and a passenger went back into Waitara for a doctor. Before they returned, however, an Auckland doctor who was following reached the scene and attended witness' brother. Details of road surface and measurements taken were given by Constable Longbottom, who said that the width of road suitable for traffic was 23ft. On the side on which the motor-cycle was there was an additional sft. 6in. of loose sand and shingle. The first skid mark appeared in this, while other marks appeared on the edge of the tar. Witness said, the bus had plenty of room, on its correct side. Upon his request. Smith called and made a statement. Smith said he was on his way to Takapuna with passengers. Ho considered his speed downhill was between 20 and 25 miles an. hour. He estimated that his vehicle, occupied about 12 or 13ft of the paved, surface. There was plenty of room for the cycle which he saw approaching to pass. When he saw that it was likely to collide with him he applied hi;s brakes and his wheels skidded, some part of his vehicle catching the cyclist. The constable stated that the bus was a, particularly wide vehicle, being 7ft. Bin„ across. A peculiar fact was that each party saw the other approaching. Recalled, White said his speed approaching the bend was 25 miles an hour, He slowed when he pulled off to endeavour to pass the bus. He could move no further off the road as he would have crashed into a fence. "It is a most extraordinary thing that, this defendant does not appear or is nolfc represented," said the magistrate. "I will let him have an opportunity to go to the Supreme Court. Suspension of his licence will give him that, but it seems quite clear that he came round on his wrong side, injuring people who were as far ofE the road as they could get." The penalty was inflicted on the firs! charge, a conviction only being entered on the second. Defendant was also ordered to pay £1 17s 6d costs,.