MOTORISTS IN COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20562, 13 May 1930, Page 11

MOTORISTS IN COURT.

DANGEROUS DRIVING CHARGE

ACCIDENT AT WESTFIELD.

MAGISTRATE RESERVES DECISION.

Following an accident to a motor-cyclist, Harold Victor Griffiths, at the intersection of the Great South Road and Bell Avenue, Westfield, on March 14, Dorothy Eileen Overton, of Auckland (Mr. Singer), and Frederick McAnaulty, of Otahuhu (Mr. Hood), were charged in tho Otahuhu Police Court yesterday with dangerous driving. Both pleaded not guilty.

Sergeant Rowcll sa\l the case arose out of an accident to Griffiths, whowas struck by Miss Over.on's car. A truck driven by McAnaulty was going toward Otahuhu, and swerved' to tho right to turn into Bell Avenue. Miss Overton turned sharply to the right to avoid a collision, but her car mounted the foot-, path and stiuck Giiffiths, who was standing on the kerb. Harold Victor Griffiths said lie had parked his motor-cycle on tho left-hand sido of the road going from tho city, about two feet from the kerb, and he was standing on tho footpath. lie was struck by Miss Overton's car, which was coming from Otahuhu. Cyril McKcnna said he was with Griffiths when the accident occurred. He saw a motor-car coming from the direction of Otahuhu and a van corning from the opposite direction. The driver of the van had his right, hand out to signal a turn. Tho car swerved suddenly to the right, mounted the footpath, and struck Griffiths. After hitting him it continued on for about a chain. There was a high clay bank on the footpath and tho car graced it for some distance. He could not say what speed the car was doing, but it was travelling fast, Cross-examined by Mr. Singer, witness would not say the car cut the corner. The speed of the van was medium.

Gordon Lawrence said he was sitting in the front seat of Miss Overton's car. Nearing Bell Avenue he saw the motorvan coming from Auckland. He saw nothing to indicate the van was going to turn. The motor-car was travelling afc about 20 miles an hour. To avoid a collision Miss Overton had to make a sudden turn to the right. The turn was so sharp that the car mounted the footpath.

Frederick McAnaulty said the car was about 50 yards away when he first saw it, and was travelling at a good pace.. Ho started to turn and had given a signal. Miss Overton appeared about to turn to the left, but swerved to the right.. There was ample room,to go behind him, but Miss Overton locked the wheel over so far that she could not bring it back. Dorothy Eileen Overton said the van turned very suddenly. She did not see any signal or any other indication that it was about to turn. She turned slightly to the left and then to the right, going round the back of the van. She was travelling at about 20 miles an hour approaching Bell Avenue. The magistrate, Mr. F." H. Levien, re* served his decision.