NEGLIGENT DRIVING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22464, 7 July 1936, Page 12

NEGLIGENT DRIVING

CAR STRIKES LORRY CONSTABLE AT SCENE [fbom our own correspondent] PUKEKOHE, Monday A charge of negligent driving was preferred in the Pukekohe Polico Court to-day against Albert James Kennedy, of Grey Lynn. Defendant's car ran into the back of a breakdown lorry on the Great South Road on the evening of April 9. Defendant's explanation was that he was temporarily blinded by tho lights of another car passing in the opposite direction. In evidence, Constable H. J. Olsen said the truck was stationary, on its correct side of the road, just south of Mercer. It had been engaged trying to pull back on to the highway two cars that had gone over the bank. A mechanic was detaching the ropes from the rear of the lorry and stepped aside just in time.to avoid being caught between Kennedy's car and the lorry. People were scattered across the road and Kennedy's car could not have gone through without first stopping, continued the witness. He was among those who were standing near by. The constable added that the mechanic might have blocked vision of the tail-light gf the lorry from defendant. He noticed it burning immediately after tho impact. Witness did not notice any car pass in the opposite direction just before.

Defendant said he was only about two car lengths away from the lorry when he was able to see clearly ahead again. It was then too late to avoid running into the lorry. The magistrate, Mr. F. H. Levien, fined defendant £2 and costs, £1 3s 3d.