BACKED INTO CAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20183, 27 June 1928, Page 2

BACKED INTO CAR

: UPPER ARAMOHO COLLISION ACTION FOR DAMAGES Misfortune followed quickly on the ’ heels of Charles H. Richards when he obtained a license to drive a car. Half • an hour later he was involved in a colli- > sion with another car at the cemetery j corner, Upper Aramoho. This was on November 23 last and the sequel was a claim for damages ! which was heard before Air J. 8. Bar- ! ton, S.M., at the Alagistrate’s Court ' yesterday afternoon. The plaintiff’s Robin Oscar Brennan, and his wife Doris Brennan (Air A. D. Brodie) ‘ sought to recover from Richards £29 9s 1 7d for damage to their car and £5 gen- ' eral damages. Mrs Brennan said she was driving her husband’s car at about 4.30 p.m. on 1 the day of the accident with two children and Air and Mrs Weller as pas--1 sengers. Witness had been able to drive for tho past three years. As she approached tho corner she saw the defendant turn into a side street. Witness sounded the horn and defendant turned round. As she neared the centre of the side street defendant started to back and come straight at witness. When questioned aa tu what had happened defendant said he did not know and that he had not driven a car before. He asked witness to be lenient and to drive round the back street to avoid a scene. He stated that he had received a driver ’s license only half an hour before. He also said that he was , entirely to blame. In reply to Air Cohen, who appeared ; for the defendant, witness said that Richards seemed to be going very fast for reverse. The plaintiff Brennan stated that he saw the defendant on the evening following the accident and the latter a.i mitted that he was to blame. He saiu that he did not hear the horn. Defendant said that he had obtained his license on the day of the accident and was out for a drive, lie turnoi. into the side road and when he did so there was no car'in sight. Witness then backed out of the road. The first intimation of the presence of tho other car was when he felt the impact. He thought that Mrs Brennan ran into him. (Witness said he was sorry at the time because he thought he was to blame. In reply to Mr Brodie witness said that he did not remember saying to Airs Brennan that he had lost his head. A witness of the collision, Harry ' Horrocks, tram motorman, thought that Mrs Brennan could have gone in front of the other car. The matter was perfectly clear, said his Worship, that the defendant was liable. He had undertaken to back out and the responsibility was therefore upon him to exercise care. Judgment was entered for £29 9s 7d special and £5 general damages with costs added.