Truck Driver Is Committed For Trial For Negligent Driving

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 July 1950, Page 6

Truck Driver Is Committed For Trial For Negligent Driving

AUCKLAND, Last Night (PA).— Charged with negligently driving a truck on Quay Street on April 11, thereby causing the death of David Desmond Gardner, a young man, James Peter McArthur, aged 24, ap-

peared before Mr. M. C. Astley, S-M. Accused pleaded not guilty. James Jorgensen said he was an acting driver employed by the New Zealand Railways Department. On April 11, he delivered a number of . empty petrol wagons to a petrol com- j pany's private filling siding at the Western Wharf. He was returning 1 to the railway yard. There were three shunters with an engine, including Desmond Gardner, on the return jourey. Three men stood on the cow- i catcher. Witness said he would be travelling about four miles an hour on the southern line. On his right was a line of stationary wagons. On reach- , ing the city end of the stationary wagons, witness said he saw a motor truck making a right-hand turn across the path of the engine. The truck would not be more than two or three feet. ffist-nt fro—i the engine. Witness immediately applied the air brake and the reversing lever. This stopped the engine in half its length. He later found that Gardner had been injured A master mariner, Adrien Evans, Who wa in the true!;, said he did not ■ see the engine until the truck had passed the railway trucks. The engine struck the truck on the left-hand side on the corner of the tray behind th: | cab, said witness. The truck was liftI ed up and slewed around to the left- : hand side of the engine. Witness did | not see what hapnened the men on

the cowcatcher as, when the accident hapnened, he was looking to see what had happened to accused. The door next to hocused sprang open and he fell on tn the ro”d. The truck was carried 25 to 30 feet after the collision. Accused was committed to the Sunrc—g Court for trial. Bail was allowed.