DRIVER CHARGED.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18903, 19 January 1927, Page 4

DRIVER CHARGED.

FATAL MOTOR SMASH. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. Soon after 9 p.m. on January 9th, a motor smash between a taxi and a Ford motor-van occurred at the corner of Page's and Kudd's roads, New Brighton, and one of the passengers died as the result of injuries received. Yesterday, in the Lower Court, James Ludernan Matthews, a taxi-driver, aged 35, was charged that on January 9th he recklessly drove a motor vehicle, thereby causing the death of Ivy Louisa Boon. Mr H. P. Lawry, &.M., was on the Bench. Detective-Sergeant J. B. Young prosecuted, and Mr C. S. Thomas appeared for accused Charles William Boon, milk-vendor, Sprevdon, husband of the deceased, said "that on January 9th lie h?d left home together with his wife and relatives about 5 p.m., for New Brighton .where the party had stayed until 830 p m Witness was driving the van, which was a Ford delivery. There were three passengers in the front seat, and his wife was sitting on a box directlv behind him. When he left Brighton the van was lighted. Witness remembered drivino- as far as the New Brighton Bridge. He had up to then been travelling about 15 to 18 miles an hour He remembered nothing more until he came to in the hospital the following dav. No member of the party had taken intoxicating liouor that evening, and there were no glass tumb- , lers in his van. .... , •. ! T)r Ella Langley. Chnstcburch, said t'-at Mrs Boon had been admitted to the hospital about 9.30 D.m. on January 9th. Witness examined her later, when she was deeply Mrs Boon had a blood clot on the side ot her head and did not regain consciousness, dying about 11.45 p.m. Death was caused bv roma, due to .lacerptinn of the brain following a fracture of the S Theodore H. J. R. Sullivan, labourer and contractor, said that he was n brother of the deceased. He was a member of the party that had gone t-> Brighton on Januarv 9th. After jeavine "Brighton, thev had been travelling at about 15 miles an hour. He remembered a car approaching them, but he could not sav where it was. He remembered nothing of the accident, and the next thing lie knew was being m the Christchureh Hosnital. Samuel Henrv Sullivan, schoolmaster, a brother of Mrs Boon, said that he had been to New Brighton with Mr Boon on January 9th.. On the return journev there was another car about 15 to 20 Yards behind them. Thev were proceeding along Page s road, wheri he heard a scream frnm the rear ran. He then saw a flash of light and heard a crash, which sounded like a loud report. He, together with two children, were thrown out from the back of the van. He rushed round to the front of the van. where he found Mr Boon nraeHcnllv unconscious behind tho wheel. When he had roiind to Mr Boon, he had not seen Mrs Boon, as she was thrown about four 'or five yards away from the.deliver*. Later he saw p motor-car. with the front wheel off. standing "bont J 5 yards away. - After the accident, the van wns turned at right angles to the side of the ro:ul. ■ • '

The CollisionLeonard Gordon Ditforfc, dairyman, said that on January 9th he had been driving a Ford motor-van, and was following Mr Boon's delivery along Page s rOad. . When the front reached Rudd's road, he saw another car approaching from the City on; its correct side, and suddenly it seemed to shoot across to its right. There was up apparent reason for this action. Witness considered that the sneerl of the car was between forty and fifty miles an hour. As soon as witness saw the car swerve, he knew there would be a collision, so he turned his van towards the- left. When the front van was struck it was thrown round at right angles to the road. After the impact, the car travelled about 12 yards. There was no other traffic nbout besides the three cars. Witness snoke to Matthews, and accused him Of furious driving. He was told to shut up. so he did not say any more. Judging by Matthews s appearance witness considered that he had had a drink or two. To Mr Thomas witness said that he had not asked accused if he had been hurt. He knew that ho had not been knocked, as Matthews was -walking hack to his car.

"Heard a CrasV Frank George Buckley, tramway motorman, said that his house was situated about 150 yards from the scene of the accident. About 9 p.m: on January 9th he was in the front garden when he saw two motor-vans going into town. They were both on their correct side, and were lighted. Shortly after they passed he heard a crash. Witness ran to the corner andsaw a big, closed-in car alongside the, road, and just past that a milk-van,, and further on another milk-van, with the right-hand side torn off. The firsti person he noticed was Mrs Boon, and he picked her up to see what injuries! she had. He then asked the driver ot the car' on the left-hand side of tse. road to ring up for the police, and an ambulance. After a lapse of about :15 minutes, there being no appearance o£ the police or ambulance, witness sent another party to ring np. ' William Joseph Lester said that he had been proceeding along Buckley's road on January 9th, when a limousine passed him. His attention was drawn to the car by the noise that the enpine was making. It sounded more like an aeroplane than a motor-car. He estimated the speed at ! 40 miles an hour. After walking a few yards he henrd what appeared to be two crashes. James McCleary, City Council employee, stated that at. 9 p.m. on January 9th. a had passed him on Buckley's road. It was travelling about 40 miles an hour. He saw it turn into Page's road, and he then heard the crash, which witness considered could be heard a mile away. Constable J. Myers said that about 9.30 p.m. on January 9th he went to the scene of the accident. When he arrived, the injured people had already been removed to the hospital. Witness spoke to accused, who smelt strongly of liquor, hut his condition was not such as would warrant his arrest.

Detective E. M. Thomas stated that he had arrested accused on January 10th. When th© warrant was read to him, he said: "Thank God I came round." When he was searched in the watch house, Matthews showed witness two small scratches on the hack of his hand, and said: "I was as lucky as —• That's all I got." Matthews pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed. The Inquest. The inquest into the death of Mrs Ivy Louisa Boon, aged 31 years, was taken in conjunction with the case. The Coroner returned a verdict that Mrs Boon died at Christchurch on January 9th. The cause of death was coma, due to laceration of the brain, following a fracture of the skull, which injury was received in a collision between a milk-van and a motor-car driven by Matthews.