LOST CONTROL OF CAR

Chronicle (Levin), 15 December 1947, Page 4

LOST CONTROL OF CAR

ACCIDENT ON SHANNON ROAD HAS COURT SEQUEL He could not understand defendant letting the car '(drift." He had temporarily los.t control of the car, which mean that he was not driving with full care and attention. This was the summing up of Mr. A. M. Goulding, S.M., of a charge brought by the police against William James Vaney, insurance agent, of Wellington, in the Levin Court on Friday. A fine of £1 was imposed. Defendant was chqrged with failing to keep as near as practicable to the left side of the road. Sergeant W. Grainger told the court that on September 19, a Maori farmer of Te Horo, James Te Puti, was driving on the LevinShannon highway in a northerly direction. At the intersection of the Shannon highway and Heatherlea East Road a collision between the two cars had occurred. Te Ppti had claimed that. he. was driving at 20 m.p.h. and was on his right side of the road. Defendant informed the court that he was rounding the b.end when the other car came into vi'ew on the wrong side of the road. He j swerved to avoid it, but the vehicle went into a drift and he temporarily lost control. He would estimate his speed at about 30 m.p.h., and the speed of the other car about the same. Judgment was given as above, with court costs amounting to 10s. Arising out of the same accident, a charge of failing to be in possession of a warrant of fitness was preferred against the other driver, James Te Puti. He was fined 10s.