MOTOR COLLISION.

Wairarapa Age, 14 December 1920, Page 3

MOTOR COLLISION.

CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. In tin' Magistrate's Court at Maslertun yesterday, before Mr S. Ij. I'. Free, 8.M., Dalgety and (Jo., Md., proceeded against Hugh Morrison, William Cooper and Jessie Strang (trustees), to recover CH;) N~ damages in coniiecLioii With a collision In tweon defendant's Premier car (driven by Mr Wilton, chauffeur lor Airs Strang) and plaintiffs linicl; ear (driven I»v Mr Lougblin >. which tool, place in Bannister street on Dili August:. Mr Hugh Hiss appeared for plaintill's, and Mr 1). \. ('. I'ragnell I'or defendants. Mv Hiss said the amount claimed, CI.Si) Bs. was the actual cost to Dalgety and Co. of having their car put into order as the result ol the accident. I'laiutiil's alleged (hat it would have been impossible lor the accident io have occurred it' defendant's chaufI'eur had ben travelling at a reasonable speed. Loughlin was driving bis car on the proper side ol the road ('oitusel submiiled that Ihe chauffeur's negligence alone caused the accident, lie bad ample room to pass, but ho continued at an excessive speed and careered straight, into plaintiff'scar and caused Ihe accident. I). 15. Carrick said that Lougblin was employed by Dalgelv and Co., and was on the company's business al the time of the accident. The account for .CI.H!) 8s for repairs to (he car bad' been paid io Yvagg and Co. Denis Aloysiu.s Lougblin, nieclianic, employed by Dalgety and Co.. said that at the time of the accident be was travelling along Dixon street at ten miles an hour. He blew bis horn at the intersection of Bannister street. and looked up Bannister street in both directions, lie saw a car approaching from Queen street. This car was about 2"> yards from Dixon street, towards Queen street, on the centre of tbe. road. Witness thought bo had plenty of time to cross the road, and he continued. "When be got over the centre of the road the oilier car came on very fast and struck the back wheel of his car. The impact Lore the rim and tyre off ibc wheel The oncoming car carried bis car along until the right-hand wheel oi the defendant's car struck I lie post a' Fly and Young's corner. The posi, was torn out. and witness's car wathrown clear ol ibe oilier car. The body of witness's ear was crushed up and broken.. the hood broken, the windscreen broken, Ibe running-board and mud-guards on the side siruek were crushed, the iool-box crushed, the back wheel bad spokes shattered, and other damage was sustained, After the accident, Wilton (driver of .Strang's car) saw witness. When witness taxed Wilton with driving 100 fast, Wilton made no reply. From tbe point of impact In where witness's car was carried was twelve vards.

Constable Phillips >,ii ii I thai (he \\ heel tracks showed'ihaf both oar-, lind been Ir.'i veiling mi ilioir proper sides lit' the road prior to the accident. li' the cuts bad lioon travelling at lon miles mi hour, there should have boon ample time to avoid an accident after the drivers saw each olln r. Strang's e.'ii' was niiiili heavier limn Dainty■'■;. Thomas Wao;<j; said that in August Inst ho s;n\- Dalu'oly's o:ir in I hi' firm';; y;inl. Thi> oar had been struck on ihe back wheel :iiid was very biiilly damaged. Olio side of iho eiir had boon ei'iishod in. The siccoinit for .L'l.'i!) Ks paid by was for work done which was actually necessary lo make the damage done by ihe accident. Tlioro was other work done to the ear. but those iioms were separably, and were paid for by Dalgofy's. The work of replacing the cai' into iho condition that, it was prior lo Lho accident was done on a contract price. The painting of ihe ear was necessary hecause one side had boon crushed in. and it Mould not do to have one side newly' painied and ihe other side not. Replying to His Worship. Mr said that lo strike a car broadside on. and carry if alon.w; thirty feet, the miconiiiifi; car unci lci\ e be<ai I ravelliiiv fairly i'asl. To Mr I'raLcnoll : It, was quite possible both cars were last, but in the o])iiiion of witness ilie (l:.itti:i:■>.■ susfainod l.v the Rniek did not indi cm to this. After hoarum; ihe expert evidence of I!. I. Jones, and that of the driver. Roy Wilton. His Worship intimated that ho would reserve Ids decision.