FATAL COLLISION.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20276, 10 April 1934, Page 9

FATAL COLLISION.

Car Driver Charged With Causing Death. MOTOR-CYCLIST KILLED. Arising from the death of Percy Reynolds Philpott, when his motorcycle collided with a car on the Main North RoJd near Kaiapoi on January 30, James M’Givern, a retired farmer, 62 years of age, of Bligh’s Road, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court this morning charged with negligently driving a car so as to cause the death of Philpott. A second charge of driving in a manner dangerous to the public was also preferred. Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., was on the Bench. Senior-Sergeant Fox conducted the case for the police and Dr Haslam appeared for accused. Ronald Graham, accountant, said that he was driving his car south on the Main North Road between 5 and 5.30 p.m. on January 30. His wife and two children were in the car. He was on the correct side of the road and never exceeded twenty-five miles an hour after passing through Kaiapoi. A motor-cycle was the first vehicle he met, ridden by a young man who, witness had ascertained, was named Philpott. Following witness’s car was another vehicle -which he had seen leaving Kaiapoi. It was about forty or fifty yards behind witness and the driver seemed to make no effort to pass him. Witness heard a bang immediately after the motor-cycle had passed him, whereupon he pulled up and found a collision had takeb place between the motor-cycle and the following motor-car. He went back and found the car on the wrong side of the road facing Christchurch, while the driver was nearer the motor-cycle, which was off the concrete on the correct side of the road, about forty yards towards Kaiapoi. The rider, Philpott, was a few yards further on, lying against a hedge, seriously injured. After the accident, the car concerned had the right front mudguard dented and the tyre under it blown out. Statement Asked For. Constable Conway described a visit to the scene of the accident at 6 p.m. on January 30 and detailed measurements he had taken. He had asked accused later to make a statement, but he had refused. “ He said that he knew a man who got six months for making a statement,” said witness. “ Well, he couldn’t ha\*e been my client,” said Dr Haslam, laughing, “ for they always get off.” Later witness told accused that Philpott was dead and accused gave him a written statement, which was the one read at the inquest. Dr Florence Craig, house surgeon at the Christchurch Hospital, said that she attended Philpott on his admission to hospital. He was suffering from severe shock, and from fractures of the right thigh and right leg. An operation was performed on February 1, but the man in the afternoon of that day. There' was no evidence of any infection or injury prior to those causing his admission. The cause of death was gas gangrene, resulting from the injuries received in the accident. Joseph R. Philpott, farmer, of Rangiora, said that the dead man, Philpott, was his son. The motor-cycle he had been riding at the time of the accident was not in good order. A year before it had been the property of witness, and had been in use for seven years. When witness last rode it it could do fifty miles an hour, but since then had deteriorated. His son was twenty years of age and in fine physical health. Dr Haslam pleaded not guilty on behalf of accused on both charges. On the first charge accused was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, the second charge being postr poned in the meantime. Bail was allowed in the sum of £IOO, with two sureties of £IOO.