RECKLESS DRIVING CHARGE

Southland Times, Issue 23827, 26 May 1939, Page 7

RECKLESS DRIVING CHARGE

TRACTOR OPERATOR SENT FOR TRIAL (United Press Association) BLENHEIM, May 25. The description “terrific” was applied to the speed of a car by witnesses called by the police when Charles Gordon Gladstone Prior, aged 26, a tractor operator, was charged with recklessly driving a motor-car in the middle of Renwick road on April 1, causing the death of Eric Pryce Newburgh. Prior pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Leo William Fraer gave evidence that he was driving a five-ton truck loaded with road metal at about 20 miles an hour when Prior’s car topped the rise ahead of him. It approached at a fast pace and suddenly it began to zigzag, evidently because of the application of the brakes. It crashed into the left side of the truck and finally dived through the rails of a small bridge into a dry river-bed. He could not estimate the speed of the car, but it was terrific. Corroborative evidence was given by two other men who were passengers in the lorry. The accused’s own statement to the police was that his speed' before the accident was not more than 30 miles an hour. Prior and Newburgh, who was a passenger in his car, were both employees of the contractor engaged in levelling the new defence aerodrome near the scene of the smash.