TRAFFIC PROSECUTIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22145, 26 June 1935, Page 16

TRAFFIC PROSECUTIONS

CASES AT OTAHUHU SEQUEL TO ACCIDENTS A sequel to a collision between two motor-cars on the Great South Road, near Papatoetoe, on May 10 was a case heard in the Otahuhu Magistrate's Court yesterday when one of the drivers, Alex Vahston Coffey, of Waihi (Mr. F. C. V. Clark), was charged with negligent driving. Ho pleaded not guilty. The other car driver, John R. Middleton, farmer, of Alfriston, said he was travelling north when defendant's car swerved across the road and collided with witness' vehicle. Defendant and a woman passenger were seriously injured. There was only a cycle on the road some distance away, and witness could offer no explanation for defendant's actions. Evidence of having seen the car swerve to its wrong side was given by two other witnesses, and Constable Nieol submitted a plan of the scene. Defendant, in evidence, said ho saw the other car approaching at a very fast speed. Ho did not remember anything until the crash. The magistrate, Mr. F. H. Levien, said the onus of disproving the evidence for the prosecution rested on defendant. He had given no evidence and would have to be convicted. In view of the defendant having suffered personal injury and loss the magistrate said he would impose no fine, but defendant would pay costs totalling £2 7s 6d. The driver of a motor-truck, James Anderson Pender, of East Tamaki, was fined 30s and 20s costs on a charge of failing to give way to traffic on the right on April 23. Sergeant J. Cahill said that defendant had driven out of East Tamaki Road and collided with a motor-cycle at the intersection. The driver of the cycle, Albert I). Wood, of Otahuhu, was fined £1 and 10s costs for driving without a licence. A fine of £3 and costs was imposed on John Henry Weaver on a charge of dangerous driving. The Main Highways Board inspector, Mr. T. C. Clissokl, said that defendant in a car overtook him on the Great South Road north of Westfield on June 3. Witness followed and found that defendant's speed was 50 miles an hour. He passed over the traffic bridge and past the works at West field at that speed.