KARAPIRO TRAGEDY.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18877, 22 February 1933, Page 8

KARAPIRO TRAGEDY.

LORRY DRIVER INDICTED.

DEATHS OF HAMILTON YOUTHS. NEGLIGENCE ALLEGED. Arising out of a severe collision on the Tirau-Cambridge Road at Karapiro on January 14, Clifton George Daw, motor mechanic, of Auckland, was charged in the Supreme Court at Hamilton to-day with negligent driving of a motor-truck, thereby causing the deaths of George Alexander Wadham (17) and Noel Joseph Anderson (17). Accused, who was represented by Mr. W. J. King, pleaded not guilty. Mr. H. T. Gillies conducted the case for the Crown. Dr. H. G. Tod, of Cambridge, gave evidence that on his arrival at the scene of the accident he found the two deceased lying on the road in a serious condition. He described their injuries In detail. Wadham died as he was being placed in the ambulance.

To Mr. King, witness said the road was very-corrugated and covered with loose metal.

'Photographs taken at the scene of the collision were produced by Constable V. C. Naylor. Cyril George Wadham, confectioner and tobacconist, of Hamilton, said he was the father of the deceased youth Wadham. His son left home on his motor-cycle with Anderson on January 4 for a holiday in Napier. Deceased had had considerable experience as a motor-cyclist and the machine was in perfect order. To Mr. King, witness agreed that his son. had bought the machine only six weeks before the accident. He had owned machines for only four months before the accident.

Constable A. Dold, of Cambridge, described his .observations shortly after the accident. The motor-cycle was held securely across the front of the truck. Daw was perfectly sober. Most of the wheel marks had been obliterated by passing traffic and pedestrians.

Anxious to Help Him. To Mr King witness said Daw was anxious to help him in every possible way after the ao'cident. James Edward McGehan, clerk, of Auckland, said he was a passenger in Daw’s truck on January 14. Approaching the point of impact, the motor-truck was on its incorrect side. As soon as Daw saw the motor-cyclist he swerved to his correct side. Just before the crash the motor-cycle appeared to wobble in the loose metal and swerve to its incorrect side.

Cross-examined, witness agreed that Daw lost no time in pulling to his correct side after he saw the motor-cycle. He was certain that Daw had not driven at a greater speed than 30 miles an hour. Constable W. Trask corroborated the evidence of Constable Doel. (Proceeding.)