CARS COLLIDE

Southland Times, Issue 20641, 13 November 1928, Page 3

CARS COLLIDE

RED BAND COINCIDENCE. DRIVERS IN COURT. On October 2 when Patrick John Duggan, a Red Band taxi-driver, stopped his car in Dee street to let passengers alight he found on trying to re-start his engine that something had gone wrong. He got out to look into matters and when he was investigating a car driver by another Red Band taxi employee, Archibald McLean, bumped into the stationary car, slightly injuring Duggan. The sequel to this somewhat unusual accident was the appearance of the drivers in the Police Court yesterday before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M. Duggan was charged with stopping his car on a part of the street other than the left edge and McLean with negligent driving. When the Magistrate commented in amusement on the fact that both drivers belonged to the same firm, Mr Hogg, who represented McLean, said that the police were responsible for the case being called. Senior-Sergeant Fox said that McLean had rightly reported the accident to the police, who had no option but to proceed. A plea of not guilty was entered in the case of McLean. Duggan, in pleading guilty, explained that he stopped where he did because he thought it would be for only a few seconds while the passengers alighted. McLean stated that no tail light was visible on Duggan’s car. It was a wet night and visibility was bad. His screen wiper was off being repaired. In reply to the Magistrate, Duggan said that he could not push his car alongside the kerb. The self-starter was jammed and the car had then to be pushed in gear. /A solicitor who was present said that he had had the same experience with a car he used to own. He affirmed that six men would be required to push the car then. After hearing these explanations the Magistrate agreed to dismiss the charge on the ground that it was an unavoidable accident. McLean was convicted and fined £l.