A MOTOR CRASH

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 27, 29 January 1929, Page 7

A MOTOR CRASH

ACCIDENT AT JUDIHJI.ST. CIVIL CLAIM IN COURT. A motor mishap which occurred at Midhirst in September last, had its sequel in the Magistrate’s Court at Stratford yesterday when before Mr it. W. Tate S.M. when John Guesou Doyle sued, Donald Mums Wilson for £93 15s 6d. Mr Chrystall who appeared for plaintiff said that on the day in question September 3, Doyle was riding on the back of his son’s motor cycle. The accident, he said had occurred on the northern bend of the road where it crosses the railway line at Midhirst. Counsel claimed that the accident was due to Wilson

cutting a corner and encroaching on Doyle’s side of the road. An independent witness would be called to shew that immediately t!|| accident the car was standing on the crown of the road, but was later shifted to the left side. Doyle’s story Mr Chrystall contended, was hacked up by the damage done to the cycle. slight disablement. Dr. I). Steven said on December 3 he was called to Midhirst where he found both the Doyles injured. -He detailed the position of the, injured people and the injuries. Doyle would have a certain degree of permanent incapacity hut it would be slight. Plaintiff had been laid up for some weeks with injuries to his knee and wrist. Ira J. Bridger motor cycle dealer of Eltham explained the damage done to Doyle’s machine. This he thought could net have been done in a head on collision. Plaintiff, John Grieson Epyle, a labourer, deposed that on September 3 he was riding pillion behind his sou icn ( a motor cycle. The speed was slow as they went through Midhirst and the bicycle was travelling on 1 the left hand side of the road. Defendant’s car could be seen approaching and the collision occurred just as they got around the corner both, he and his son were thrown on to the r oad. Witness gave particulars of his injuries. He saw the car that hit them being taken across the road. The saddle of the motor; cycle was on witness’ sou’s foot. Mr Wilson the occupant of the car lifted the cycle off the foot but allowed it to go back again and returned to the car where he waited until a service car came along. Witness had been unable to work until November 20 and even now he was only able to do light wofk. To Mr Quilliam, for defendant. His son had sapl “It looks as though they are going to run us down”, just as the crash came. Mr Quilliam. —Wasn’t it cruel of Wilson to let the bicycle drop on your son’s foot?—lt looked like it, hut it might have been an accident. Charles Hodge a farm labourer of Midhirst said he heard a crash the morning of the accident and saw a little Austen car on tip? centre of tlm road. The motor cycle was on the edge of the bitumen further bach, i He said he saw Wilson and another man push the car over to the left 1 hand side of the road.

To Mr Quilliam. —Witness did not take measurements at the time of the accident. He had made measurements but not' until some week’s later. Errold Doyle son of the plaintiff gave evidence in support of his father’s statements regarding events leading up to the accident. Witness was rendered unconscious by the crash. DE FENBA N T’S E VIDE A CE. Donald M. Wilson, the defendant 1 , said he was driving from New Plymouth. When he approached the crossing he saw the motor cycle and kept on his left side but the motorcycle seemed to swerve towards him. The cycle seemed to cannon off the right hand side of his car. Alter the accident witness walked over to the motor cycle, Doyle was standing up, hut the son was lying on the side of the road. Witness denied lifting the motor cycle from the fopt of Doyle junior and letting it drop back again. It was Carthew, wit-

ness’s companion who pushed the car out. of the way of traffic, but. witness did n'ot touch it himself.

Sidney G. Cat.hro, Stratford, who was in the service car which arrived soon after the accident gave details as to when the car and motor cycle

pad stopped. On stepping it he found that the point of impact was about

10ft Gin. from the motor cycle side of (lie road.

Edward V. Carthow who travelled with defendant! on the morning in question said that the motor cycle failed to take the bend, swung out

and collided with the car. He thought the car might lie in the way of the traffic so he pushed it'off the bitumen. This completed the evidence for the defence and the case, but Mr R. W. Tate S.M. reserved his judgment.