DRIVER FOR TRIAL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21160, 9 July 1940, Page 4

DRIVER FOR TRIAL

ACCIDENT NEAR NEWSTEAD INJURED MOTOR-CYCLIST “HIT-AND-RUN" ALLEGED An accident on the the Morrins-ville-Hamilton highway on the morning of June 12, when a motor-cyclist was struck by a motor-car which did not stop, had a sequel in the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, to-day, before Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M. William Cole, farmer, of Matamata, faced charges of negligent driving causing bodily injury to Cecil Christian Horne, and failing to stop to ascertain whether he had injured the person and to render all practicable assistance. The case for the police was conducted by Senior-Sergeant G. H. Lambert, and Cole was represented by Mr W. J. King. Kenneth Massey Griffin, Government analyst at Auckland, gave evidence concerning the green paint on Cole’s car and the patches of paint found on the road at the scene of the accident. The exhaust pipe and tool box from Horne’s motor-cycle were also produced, witness stating that the smears of paint on them corresponded with that on the car. Damage to Car Photographs of Cole’s car and of the locality of the accident were produced by Constable A. A. Gudsell, who described damage which had been caused to the mudguard of the car. Some of the marks appeared to have been freshly done. Giving details of the injuries suffered by Horne, Dr. A. G. Waddell said the man suffered extensive abrasions and a large bruise on the back. The most severe injury was a fracture a few inches above the right ankle. The injured motor-cyclist, Cecil Christian Horne, sawmiller of Newstead, said that on the morning of June 12 he was riding his brother’s motor-cycle toward Hamilton from Newstead. His speed was 25 miles an hour, and he was on the correct side of the road. The accident took place when the car approached from the rear and knocked him down. The car driver did not sound his horn, and witness did not hear the vehicle approach. Saw Car Disappearing Witness skidded along the road, and on looking up he saw the green car which had struck him. It was proceeding toward Hamilton, travelling at about 50 miles an hour along the centre of the road. The car did not slacken speed after the collision. The driver should have felt the collision. Thomas Frederick Osborne, farmer, of Temuka, said that when he was driving along the Morrinsville-Ham-ilton highway a green car overtook him. Just as witness was meeting an oncoming bus the green vehicle swerved in front of him and passed. Farther along the road the driver of the green car overtook another vehicle in similar circumstances. A distance farther along the road witness saw Horne lying on the road. The car shown to him by the police was the one which passed him just before the accident. Previous Accident Evidence that on June 5 Cole’s car had crashed into his parked vehicle and then moved off was given by Duncan Curry Waterson, of Matamata. On being approached later, Cole admitted crashing into witness’ car. In a statement read in court, Cole said the damage to the rear mudguard of his car was caused when ho struck a car while backing out from the kerb at Matamata a week previously. He denied that he had driven along the Morrinsville road on the morning of June 12, and said that he had come from Matamata through Horahora and Cambridge. Cole pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court, Hamilton, for trial. Bail was allowed at £IOO on his own recognisance.