MOTORING FATALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20239, 26 April 1929, Page 17

MOTORING FATALITY.

CAR CRASHES INTO POST.

DEATH OF YOUNG WOMAN.

CHARGE AGAINST DRIVER. [BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday. A charge of negligently driving a motorcar on March 31, thereby causing the death of Maureen Doris Mitchell, was preferred against John Boyd Clark, in the Magistrate's Court yesterday before Mr. H. A. Young, S.M. The inquest concerning the death of Miss Mitchell was held in conjunction with the hearing of the charge. The case arose out of the collision of a motor-car with a post at the Clock Tower intersection in the early hours of Sunday, March 31. Miss Mitchell, who was in the car, died shortly after the collision.

Mr. C. S. Thomas, with Mr. J. D. Hutchison, appeared for accused and Mr. M. J. Gresson represented the relatives of deceased. Detective-Sergeant Young conducted proceedings on behalf of the police.

Dr. Shand, house surgeon, said that when Cecil Spencer Penlington and Miss Mitchell were admitted to Christchureh Hospital Penlington had a compound fracture of the left arm. Miss Mitchell was dead. She had a small wound on the right temple. In witness' opinion the girl had a broken neck. No Suggestion ol Liquor. In evidence Penlington, a solicitor, stated that his last recollection of the night of the accident was at 12.7 a.m.," when he was in the annexe lounge at Dixieland. He did not remember getting into the car. His next recollection was when he recovered consciousness in hospital. The Magistrate: Is there any suggestion of liquor? Detective-Sergeant Young: No. The Magistrate (to witness): Were all members of the party sober ?—Yes. Nora Balderston Rich, a single woman, stated that she was sitting next accused, who drove the car, and Miss Mitchell sat on Penlington's knee next to her. Witness said the car was on its correct side of the road. It was a very wet night. Just beforo the collision three men walked across the street, but sho did not think the men were in the way of the car, nor did she notice the speed of the car. The driver's view would not have been obstructed. After the car struck the post it turned comriletelv round.

Harry Lester Roberts, a labourer, stated that he was near the scene of the accident just as his attention was attracted by a motor-car coming along High Street. He thought the car was going too fast. Witness believed the car was going to go down High Street, when suddenly the driver took a wide turn into .Manchester Street and crashed loudly into the post. Witness could not swear to the speed of the car, but it" was travelling very fast. " Car Was Going Too Fast." David James Hawtin, porter at the Clarendon Hotel, said he was crossing Manchester Street, walking in the direction of the Square, when he noticed the approach of a motor-car. the horn of which was being sounded "pretty furiously." The speed of the car was excessive. Witness could not give a definite estimate of the speed, but the pace gave the impression that the driver intended continuing along High Street. The car was going too fast. The brakes must have been put on. for the car developed a skid which swung it completely round. The machine was about 25ft. away from the post when it stopped.

Constable Simmonds said lie heard the crash and found deceased and Penlington lying unconscious on the road. There was another car on the scene when witness arrived.

Following questions by the magistrate regarding the second oar, Mr. Thomas said that though other witnesses had said nothing of it it was concluded that accused was blinded Ijy th 9 headlights of the other car coming down High Street, and had then made a turn into Manchester Street. " Blinded by Light of a Car." Constable Wilson produced a statement which accused made at about 2 a.m. on the Sunday. Accused, a woolbuyer, said that when approaching the Clock Tower corner the speed was about 18 miles an hour. He blew the horn and was blinded by the light of a, car approaching along High Street. The next thing he knew was that he struck something which he later learned was a post. He got out of the car and helped those who were hurt. He had a driver's licence, but was not in possession of it at the time.

Detective-Sergeant Young said that was all the evidence to be called at present. The police had just that morning received word that two witnesses who could givo evidence speed had been located in Greymouih. If it was considered by the Court that there was sufficient evidence to commit accused to the Supreme Court for trial the police could give notice of the calling of further evidence. On Ihe other hand if a, prima facie case were not made out the police asked for an adjournment to allow the two witnesses at present, in Greymonth to give evidence. .An adjournment until Monday was granted. Accused was allowed bail in his own recognisance of £SO.