MOTORIST’S BAD LUCK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19803, 3 December 1938, Page 13

MOTORIST’S BAD LUCK

CAR WRECKED DISASTER, ON FIRST TRIP "It would be difficult to imagine d more unfortunate set of circumstances,” said Mr. T. P. McCarthy in the Petone Police Court when entering a plea of guilty for Sydney Frank Trask, who was charged with failing tc keep a vigilant look-out for approaching trains and attempting to cross a railway line when it was not clear, failing to carry a warrant of fitness, and driving without due care and attention.

After Senior-Sergeant H. C. H. Wade had outlined the facts of the collision between the defendant’s car and a rail-car on October 4, Mr. McCarthy said his client had bought a car in Wellington and the firm which sold him the car sent two men out with him. One man drove as for as Ngahauranga and then the defendant took the wheel, as he had not driven for 11 years and wanted a lesson. The defendant stopped at the Petone railway crossing and he said that at the time the warning bells were not ringing. He was told to go on again, and when the bells started to ring, he maintained, the man who was teaching him to drive told him to go on, but this man said he told him to go back. A collision occurred. The car was a complete wreck and the defendant had to spend a week in hospital. He was now faced with a substantial bill for damage to the railcar which struck him. He had lost the car. on whech he had paid £SO oil the purchase price when he took it over. The defendant was lined 10s and costs by Mr. A. M. Goulding, S.M., lor driving without due care and attention and ordered to pay costs for failing to carry a warrant of fitness. The other charge was withdrawn.