LOCAL MAN INVOLVED IN MOTOR COLLISION.

Upper Hutt Weekly Review, Volume I, Issue 10, 21 February 1936, Page 1

LOCAL MAN INVOLVED IN MOTOR COLLISION.

Arthur Victor Geange, who was represented by Mr. A. Mazengarb, pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving a motor truck in a manner that might have been dangerous to the public. Rex Norman Stevens, of Lyall Bay, Wellington, stated that on Sunday, 19th January, he was driving in a southerly direction through the Upper Hutt district and at about 5.5 p.m., when approaching the intersection of King Street and the Main Road, he saw a van which appeared to be parked on the wrong side of the road. When he saw that the van was moving he slowed down from his original speed of 25 miles per hour. The driver of the van put out his hand indicating a turn to the right, but failed to make the turn; immediately he saw this, Stevens swung his car over to the wrong side in an effort to avoid a collision, but was unable to do so. Immediately after the impact he asked Geange what his idea was in making the signal and not turning and Geange denied that he had put his hand out. A passenger who was in the van jumped out and ran away. Edna Kathleen Hunter, of Darlington Road, Miramar, a passenger in Stevens' car, also stated in evidence that she was sitting in the front seat of the car and saw the van approaching from the wrong side of the road and the driver giv-

ing the signal to turn. She stated that there were a jar and a bottle i of beer in the van, which Geange | wanted to take away, but plaintiff refused to allow him to take them j out of the van. Justin Fuller Williams, salesman, j of Willis Street, Wellington, stated that he was driving - a car behind Stevens' and noticed that he was driving in a straight line. In his i opinion Stevens did all he possibly j could to avoid a collision. The | driver of the van made a movement I but Williams could not be sure | whether he leaned out or put his j hand out. He stated that Geange l appeared to have had liquor and offered to make good any damage to Stevens' car, up to £6O, if nothing was said about the accident. Senior-Sergeant G. Sivyer, who was conducting the case for the police, said that they were not bringing the question of liquor into the case. Mr. C. E. H. Yarnell, Inspector of the Upper Hutt Borough, said that when he arrived at the scene of the accident the two men were having an argument but ceased when he told them who he was. Continuing-, Mr. Yarnell said that he marked the positions of the cars on the bitumen and awaited the arrival of the police, who had been sent for. Geange smelled of liquor but was in a fit state to drive a car. The defendant stated that he picked up a man named Kearney who asked for a lift to Kaitoke, and, after taking- in some benzine at Baigent's Garage, immediately

pulled over to his correct side. He was doing- about 15 miles per hour when he saw Stevens, whom he thought was about to turn down King Street, and to avoid him he pulled over. He denied indicating a turn himself as he was going to Kaitoke, and a turn would have taken him away from this direction. Asked by the Senior Sergeant what had become of his passenger, Geange said that he and Constable Stewart looked for him and eventually found him with a nasty cut across his head, received from breaking glass when the vehicles collided. He admitted that Kearney had had some liquor but did not agree with the Senior Sergeant that his passenger was drunk. Claude Leonard Baig-ent, garage proprietor, said that Geange crossed over to his correct side after leaving his garage. Baigent watched him for a while and he drove in his usual manner. Asked by Mr. Mazengarb whether he had seen the accident, w-itness replied that he had not, but that lie was present later to tow the cars away. In imposing a fine of £2/10/- and costs, the Magistrate stated that Stevens and Miss Hunter had clearly seen defendant give the signal for a right-had turn, also an independent witness (Williams) said that Geange offered to make good the damage, and this was not denied. Speed did not enter into the case, neither did erratic steering or liquor; it all centred round the signal to turn.