HAD AN AMAZING ESCAPE

Chronicle (Levin), 7 December 1946, Page 4

HAD AN AMAZING ESCAPE

FINE FOLLOWS LEVEL CROSSING SMASH "Some people have extraordinary luck, This man seems to have had an amazing escape," commented Mr. A. M. Goulding, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court, Levin, yesterday, when dealing with the case of Roy Douglas Judd, a milk roundsman, who was charged with drivmg a .vehicle across a level crossing when the lin-e was not clear. Defendant, who was represented by j Mr. J. Todd, entered a plea of guilty. He was fined £1, with 10s costs, the magistrate remarking that he was taking imto consideration the fact that defendant had probably suffered severe loss as the result of damage to his vehicle. The charge was the result of an accident on November 14, when a truck driven by defendant was struck by the Auckland express as it was passing through Levin at about 4.55 p.m., said Sergeant Grainger. It was raining at the time and Judd had both windows up in the eab^f the truck. He was travelling in Second gear, and had said these factors had prevented his hearing the train's. approach He had not seen the train till it was almost on . hira, and he had then accelerated to avoid it. The rear of the vehicle. had been struck and had been badly damaged. For defendant, Mr. Todd said that his client had discovered he was running late, and was in a hurry to finish his round. He had not given a thought to the crossing, and had not seen the train till it was nearly on top of him. It was a case of thoughtlessness. "He must have been trying to deliver milk to celestial customers," was the comment Of Mr. Goulding when imposing the fine.