FATAL COLLISION.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18807, 1 December 1932, Page 8

FATAL COLLISION.

MOTOR CYCLIST’S DEATH. ALLEGATIONS OF NEGLIGENCE. DRIVER SENT FOR TRIAL. Negligent driving of a delivery van so as' to cause the death of Charles Edward Belcher was the charge preferred against Alexander McGlashan, fishmonger, of Raglan, before Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon. The prosecution arose out of a collision on the Hamilton-Raglan main highway at Te Uku, on October 13, between the accused’s delivery van and a motor-cycle ridden by Belcher. Suffering from serious head injuries, Belcher, who was a farm hand, aged 27 years, of Te Uku, was admitted to the Waikato Hospital where he died four days later. Senior-Sergeant Sweeney acted for the police and Mr J. F. Strang appeared for the accused. The adjourned inquest In connection with Belcher's death was held in conjunction with the charge. Dr. S. C. Colbeck, of the Waikato Hospital staff, stated that when deceased was admitted to hospital he was suffering from shock, severe head injuries and other injuries. Deceased’s condition grew worse some lime after admission, and he died on Monday, October 17. In his opinion the cause of death was laceration of the brain directly caused by the accident and aggravated by shock produced by his fractures and abrasions. Constable V. 0. Naylor produced photographs and plans of the scene of the accident. Marks on Wrong Side. William Belcher, farmer, of Te Uku, and fattier of the deceased, said about 3.40 p.m. on October 13 he was called to the scene of the accident by McGlashan. Witness fopnd his son injured on a bank. The wheel-marks of ■ McGlashan’s lorry were on the wrong side of the road for some distance —about a chain. At the point of impact one side of the road was higher than the other and McGlashan should have been on the higher side. Witness noticed the marks of his son’s motor-cycle which were on the correct side. When he saw' the motor-cycle it had gone across to the incorrect side. It appeared that his son was carrying 1 cwt. of potatoes on the back of his machine. Cross-examined, witness said AlcGlashan had mentioned that his son had “come around the corner at such a terrible rate” that he had run into him. He could not remember McGlashan saying anything about the deceased being on the wrong side of the road. Charles O’Neill, carpenter, of Tc Uku, deposed to visiting the scene soon after the accident. The motorcycle was lying underneath the lorry. Judging by his wheel marks, McGlashan had been travelling on his incorrect side. Just before the Impact McGlashan appeared to have swerved In order to get on to his correct side. To Mr Strang, witness could not say whether the cycle marks pointed out to-him were on the' wrong side of the road. He thought they were on the correct side. McGlashan did not tell him that the cyclist was on the wrong side. Owen Bagnall, farmer, of Te Uku, said the deceased was his brother-in-law. lie accompanied O’Neill to the scene and testified that the wheelmarks showed that McGlashan wasdriving on his incorrect side. He noticed other marks on the correct ■side of the road which he had no doubt belonged to the motor-cyclst. Constable J. O’Sullivan, of Raglan, saw Hie accused’s wheel marks on his incorrect side. The motor-cyclist’s marks were very indistinct. He. obtained a statement from McGlashan. Accused’s Statement. In his statement the accused said he noticed a motor cycle about quarter a mile ahead coming around -a bend. After travelling about .0 chains he met the motor cycle on a bend. The motor-cyclist was “running wide” so he swerved his motor van to the left at the same time applying the brakes and calling to the cyclist to “mind •where he was going.” The motor cycle appeared to wobble across the road towards him and struck the right hand side of his- radiator. By that time he had the brakes hard on and the car almost stopped. When the van stopped the cycle fell over and the rider rolled over on his back. As be jumped out to assist him the van moved forward a few feet, passing over the cycle and Belcher’s left leg. The accused pleaded not guilty and was committed lo the Supreme Court at Hamilton for trial. Ball was fixed in one surety of £SO. The inquest was adjourned.