COUNCIL DRIVER FUMED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20017, 16 August 1939, Page 10

COUNCIL DRIVER FUMED

COLLISION AFTERMATH

VISIBILITY FAULTY

RIDER BY JUSTICES After viewing the scene of the collision and hearing legal submissions by both counsel, the Bench convicted and discharged Davis and convicted and fined Moore £l, with costs amounting to £2 Bs. The Bench pointed out that visibility at the intersection was bad and suggested that certain trees which obstructed the view at the corner should be removed. Arising out of a collision between a municipal bus and a private car at the intersection of Fox street and Clifford street at midday on July 13. the driver of the bus, Eric Moore (Mr. H. D. Chrisp) and the driver of the private car, James Darcy Davis (Mr. W. Kohn) appeared before Messrs. J. B. Broadhurst and Chas. Matthews, J.P.s, in the Police Court yesterday.

On the information of the police, Moore was charged with failing to give way to traffic on bis right at an intersection, and Davis was charged with negligent driving in that be failed to keep a proper look-out. Both defendants pleaded not guilty. Senior-Sergeant J. F. H. Macnamara was the prosecutor. Visit to Corner After the hearing of evidence, the court adjourned to enable the Bench to visit the scene of the collision, this being done on the application of Ml’. Ghrisp. Senior-Sergeant'Macnamara said that Moore, the driver of a Borough Council bus, collided with Davis at the intersection of Fox street and Clifford street. Visibility at the intersection was good, there being visibility to a distance of 72ft. Moore failed to give way to Davis, who was on the right of the bus, and a collision occurred. Davis, the other defendant, had, in the opinion of the police, entered the intersection too fast and failed to keep a proper look-out. Walter Ronald Percy Baigent, a passenger in the ibus on the day of the collision, said that ho saw Davis in his car approaching up Clifford street, the car travelling at a fast speed. The head of the 'bus had entered the intersection when witness first saw Davis in his car, and witness thought that there was a possibility of a collision. The car struck the right-hand rear side of the bus, the impact throwing the bus several feet out of alignment. Witness heard the bus driver sound his horn as be approached the intersection. The road was wet at the time.

To Mr. Kohn, witness said that he had to turn and look over his shoulder to see Davis’ car approaching and, answering Mr. Chrisp, he said that the Ibus had slowed down before reaching the intersection and was travelling at about 15 miles per hour. The bus was well into the intersection before witness saw the car. Car Brakes Applied ‘Miss Rita Watson, a passenger in Davis’ car. Said that Davis had apnroached the intersection at a speed of about T 5 miles per hour. Davis had applied his brakes when they saw the ‘bus, but the collision occurred. The intersection was a bad one and was obscured by hedges. Another bus passenger, Daniel Robert Connop, said that the bus was about one-third of the way across the intersection when he saw the car approaching. The car, in bis opinion, was travelling 100 fast towards the intersection, witness fixing the speed of the car at about 30 miles per hour. Evidence was given also by Miss Uanita Rutherford, a passenger in the bus. and James Darcy Davis, the latter giving evidence in the case against Mocre. Answering Mr. Chrisp, Davis denied that it was bis speed that had pushed the bus out of alignment. Formal evidence was given by Constable J. G-edye, who said that the , corner would not be a dangerous one to a careful driver, and also by Constables W. 11. Rogers and R. Thom. Alan William Cleaver, a bank officer, who was a passenger in the bus, said that he had seen the car approaching the intersection and anticipated the collision.

Eric ‘Moore, the driver of the bus, said that his vehicle had been well on the centre of the intersection when he saw the car approaching about 20ft. away.

At this stage the court was adjourned to enable the ‘Bench to view the scene of the collision.