FATAL MOTOR COLLISION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20022, 12 February 1927, Page 10

FATAL MOTOR COLLISION.

PASSENGER’S DEATH RESULTS. CLAIM FOR £IOOO DAMAGES VERDICT FOR DSFBKDANTS. (Special to Daili TnasaJ AUCKLAND, February 33, A collision in Hauraki road, Birkenhead, on Christmas Day between two motor oar* which resulted in the death of a poaseogar, culminated in a claim for £IOOO damage*. The case was commenced before Mr Justice Stringer and a jury. The plaintiffs to tba action are Thomas Finlay Leathart, maater mariner, Birkenhead, and Evelyn Leathart (Mr Allan Moody); and the defendant* are William Osborne Thompson, farmer, Raxawai (Mr A. H. Johnstone), and Frederick Lees, printer, Birkenhead (Mr B. Inder). Mr Moody said the claim 4 was brought against the two defendants' for alleged negligence on the part of either one or the other of the defendants or both of them, A son of plaintiff, who had contributed £4 per week to his parents, hod died aa the result of injuries received in the accident. It appeared that about 1 p.m. on Christmas Day the deceased had taken hfs father his dinner at Northcote, and on fit* way back was a lift by Lees. Thera were seven people in the car. When approaching Hauraki road the defendant Thompson came down Hineznoa i road all what was alleged to be an excessive speed. He failed to see the signal given by Lees, and there was a collision. The force of the impact caused Thompson’s car to capsize. It would be alleged that both Lees and Thompson were driving at a speed dangerous to the public. The alternative claims were for £IOOO damages againat Lees and Thompson individually. Evidence on lines similar to that at tha inquest was given. William Thompson, one of the dalao dants, said he was travelling about IB miles an hour. He assumed that Lee* totended to keep to the main road. He edged over as far as possible to the left, and Lees out across in front of him. Be saw no signal. He was watching the man in what be thought was the driver’* seat. He did not then know that Lees’* ear tod a left-hand drive. The defendant Lees said ha rigWfßad that he intended to go straight into Harbour View road and he sounded his ham twice, expecting that Thompson would keep away to his right. The jury returned a verdict lata to-night that there was no negligence on the mat of the defendant*. Counsel for plaintiff* said ho would move for a now trial