MOTOR-LORRY FATALITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20302, 9 July 1929, Page 13

MOTOR-LORRY FATALITY

CHARGES AGAINST TWO MEN.

NEGLIGENT DRIVING ALLEGED. BOTH COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday. Arising out of an accident at Bell Block on tho evening of Juno 11, when Mr. John Poletti, a well-known farmer, received injuries from which ho died almost immediately, serious charges wero preferred against a young Maori, Rami Watson, of Waitara, and Louis Albert Sarten, of Waitara, for whom Watson worked as a motor-lorry driver. Tho inquest into tho death of Mr. Poletti was concluded, and simultaneously tho charges against the two men wero heard. The charges against Watson wero that ho negligently drovo a lorry without lights, thereby causing tho death of Mr. Poletti, and that ho drove without holding a driver's licence. The charge against Sarten was that ho aided and abetted Watson in tho commission of the abovo offences. Both accused pleaded not guilty and wero committed for trial at tho next sitting of tho Supremo Court in New Plymouth.

A motor driver said ho was driving from Waitara on tho ovening in question and reached Bell Block about 5.25 p.m. Ho saw a motor-lorry without lights. Ho also saw a man wobbling along in tho samo direction as tho lorry was going, about two or threo yards in front of it. Ho saw tho lorry strike tho man and knock him down and drag him along. Tho man was walking just off the tarred roadway. Tho left wheels of tho lorry wero on tho metal and the right wheels on tho tarred portion. Tho lorry was travelling slowly. Witness thought a wot windscreen and tho lights of witness' lorry shining on to it would mako it practically impossible for tho driver of tho other lorry to seo ahead. A constable who was called to the sceno stated ho had turned on tho lights of Watson's lorry, but they would not work. Tho polico produced a statement mado later by Watson. Ho admitted ho had no lights. His employer, Sarten, drovo in front of him to show him tho road. It was arranged that witness should drive as far as possiblo before dark and then leave tho lorry on tho roadside and proceed with Sarten. When just outsido New Plymouth Sarten said ho would drive behind tho lorry, as he thought it would bo better. Watson then mel another car, tho lights of which dazzled him. Ho knew nothing of tho presence of anyone on tho road until he felt a bump. He then applied the brakes and stopped immediately. The police stated Sarten's statement confirmed that of Watson as to tho method of proceeding on account of the lorry having no lights. Tho coroner, Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., found that death had resulted from injuries caused through deceased being knocked down by a motor-lorry driven by Watson.