SEQUEL TO COLLISION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 14

SEQUEL TO COLLISION.

NEGLIGENT DRIVING PROVED.

CASE AGAINST TRAVELLER.

[BY TELEGHAPJT. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] PUKEKOHE, Wednesday

Charged with being intoxicated while in charge 'of a motor-car on August 9 and with negligent driving, a commercial traveller, George J. Hensen (Mr. A. Moody), appeared before Mr. F. 11. Levien, S.M., in the Pukekohe Police Court to-day. Tho traffic inspector for the Highways Board, Mr. E. H. Barrett, prosecuted. The magistrate dismissed tho charge in regard to intoxication, but convicted defendant of negligent driving and ordered him to pay costs, £7 10s 4d. j Evidence was given that defendant's car, which was proceeding to Auckland, and a car driven by Percival Miles, who was going to To Kuiti, collided on tho Great South Road about three miles north of Rangiriri shortly beforo 8 p.m. Defendant's car continued on and went over a 3ft. bank somo 60ft. farther along the road and on its right-hand side. Miles' car was as far over to its left as it could go. The inspector arrived on tho scene a few seconds after the accident took place. Tho inspector and Mr. and Mrs. Miles said that defendant's speech when ho left his car after the collision was thick. Tho first two witnesses added that defendant staggered slightly, and they came to tho conclusion that ho was intoxicated.

Tiie inspector took defendant to the Mercer police station. The constable did not consider defendant was intoxicated on arrival at the station. Subsequently' defendant drove his car away. Evidence for the defence was that defendant arrived at Rangiriri about 530 p.m., and had tea there, having two drinks in tho hotel bar with a friend beforehand. lie had no liquor after tea atul took none in tho car. He left Rangiriri about 7 p.m., but had trouble with one of the sparking plugs. He saw Mr. Miles' car pull over to the left. This led him to believe Miles' car had been travelling on its wrong side of. the .road, so he continued straight on, but touched the other car. lie first saw Miles' car when it was about 50ft. away. The magistrate held that tho evidence did not show conclusively that defendant was suffering from the effects of liquor to a degree rendering him unfit to be in charge of the car. However, it certainly showed he was not proceeding with as much care as ho should have been oxercis'iigi and he was thus guilty of negligent driving.