TRAILER STRIKES CAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27080, 14 May 1949, Page 9

TRAILER STRIKES CAR

CLAIM FOR DAMAGES SUCCEEDS After hearing further evidence and submissions -by counsel, Mr J. D. Willis, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday awarded the plaintiff the full amount claimed, £6O, in the action in which Frank Leslie Taylor, a company manager (Mr K. W. Stewart) proceeded against Edward John Quartermain, a builder, (Mr R. C. Rutherford) for damages as the result of an accident which took place in the NorthEast Valley road during the New Zealand Bowling Championships in January of last year. A trailer, loaded with wood, which was being towed by the defendant’s car came adrift and collided with Taylor’s car. It was contended by the plaintiff that the trouble had been caused through a faulty trailer connection. . Evidence was given yesterday by Alexander Peter Douglas, a carpenter employed by the defendant, who stated that he was in Quartermain’s car at the time of the accident. The road was very rough and they were travelling at between 10 and 15 miles an hour when the trailer came adrift. Witness considered that travelling over the rough surface had wrenched off the coupling. . ■ . . . . . , The magistrate, m giving his decision, said the defendent had failed to give a reasonable explanation of the occurrence, which would have, exonerated him from responsibility.