FATAL COLLISION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22776, 9 July 1937, Page 15

FATAL COLLISION

NEGLIGENCE ALLEGED

WOMAN DRIVER CHARGED ACCIDENT AT. TAKANINI COMMITTED FOR TRIAL Arising out of a collision between a motor-cycle and a motor-car at Takanini on April 11, the car driver, Annie Elizabeth 31 ills, aged 2!.), a single woman, appeared in the Police Court | yesterday charged with negligent driv- | ing, causing the death of the cyclist, Walter John Lucas. Mr. Wyvern Wil- | son, S.M., was on the Bench, and Bubj Inspector Fox conducted the prosecuI tion. Accused was represented by Mr. | Goldstine, and pleaded not guilty. Medical evidence was given that I Lucas died in the Auckland Hospital on \ the night of the collision, death being due to shock and collapse from loss of blood from a wound in the left thigh, i Hov W. McSkimming said ho was i driving southward, and about a mile | from tbe intersection of the Great ! South Road and Graham's Road, where I the collision occurred, lie followed accused s car. His speed was about •'!() miles an hour and accused's slightly less. A\ hen about 100 yds. from the corner the leading ear slowed speed and began to move across the centre-line when about 50yds. from the intersection. "Continued in Gentle Sweep" "it continued in a gentle sweep, as though the driver intended to turn into Graham's Road on the right," continued witness. "I noticed the cyclist approaching from the opposite direction. He was on his correct side and maintained a straight course. When the car crossed to its wrong side it blocked 1113* view of the motor-cycle." Witness said ho pulled well over to his left to avoid a possible collision should the cyclist swerve out to his right in attempting to pass accused's car. At the time of the impact witness was about 25yds. behind the car. Ho said ho was not aware of accused having given any signal of intention to turn. The car was slowing down to between 15 and 20 miles an hour at the time of impact. "1 saw the driver put out her hand," stated Keith Hogan, aged 16, who said he was standing under a shop verandah near the corner. Saw Driver Give Signal Eugene Hogan said ho was standing 011 the footpath lino of his section about 100 yds. away when he saw the car pass southward. He saw a signal given by the driver. He first-saw the cyclist when lie was about 50yds. on the south side of the intersection, the car then being about the same distance away. The main highways chief traffic inspector, J. E. Ainsworth, said be arrived on tbe scene soon after the collision. Photographs of the scene which had been taken by witness" camera were produced in Court. The road was straight at the scene, conwitness, with a considerable dip in the spot. Constable Christmas, of Manurewa, said the vehicles were locked together ' on the north-west corner of the intersection. Witness submitted a statement given by accused. In it she stated she gave a signal, and thought the cyclist would pass behind her car. It was for that treason she had made to cut the corner. Accused reserved her defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being fixed at £SO.