DANGEROUS DRIVING CHARGE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 36, 26 February 1937, Page 3

DANGEROUS DRIVING CHARGE

Our Own Correspondent^

Sequel to Collision on Blackburn Road

(From-

WAIPAWA, Last Night. Arising out of a collisio'n with a car driven by Mr H. D. Hardy, on the Blackburn road, on January 21, Ronald VVatson, of Napier, was charged before Mr J. Miller, S.M., with failing to keep to the left of the centre line of the road, and also with dangerous driving. Constable Ruston, of Ongaonga, prosecuted on behalf of the Police Department, and defendant was represented by Mr D. W. Neild, and pleaded not guilty to both charges. Henry Dalton Hardy, of Waipukurau, farmer, stated that when about 70 feet froau the bend on which the collision occurred defendant' s vehicle had come round th© corner at about 30 miles per hour, on the wrong side of the road and in the water table. Defendant had endeavoured to swing over to his correct side but had struck witness's car a glancing blow in the centre of the radiator. Had his speed been reasonable the collision could have been avoided. There was about 16 feet of useable roadway, but the road actually was much wider. Witness had been strictly on his correct side, and was travelling about 25 m.p.h. He did not see the defendant at all until he was between 60 and 70 feet away. If the defendant had been on his right side his car couid have been seen about two chains away. The corner was a very dangerous oue. Mr Neild cross-examined witnesg at Iength as to the condition of the road. To the magistrate, witness said that after the collision defendant had admitted being on his wrong side. Similar evidenc© was given by W. E. Coles, of Ongaonga, a passenger in Hardy's car, .who also stated that defendant had acknowledged being on the wrong side. The defence submitted that Hardy could have assisted in avoiding the collision, and defendant denied that he was travelling at an excessive speed, although admitting that he had been travelling on the wrong side of fche road. On th© charge of dangprous driving he was fiijed £4 with costs amounting to £1 13/- and hds license was endorsed. On the other chaarge he was convicted and discharged.