SEQUEL TO ACCIDENT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5120, 2 May 1927, Page 2

SEQUEL TO ACCIDENT.

RECENT LORRY COLLISION.

ALLEGED DANGEROUS DRIVING.

As a result of the- recent collision on Thames Road between two motor lorries Beechey Spencer, motor lorry driver, Paeroa, was charged at the Magistrate’s Cpurt this morning, befort Mr F. W, Platts, S.M., with driving a motor lorry round the intersection of Norwood Road and Thames Hoad, Paeroa, at a speed and in a manner which, having regard to all the circumstances, was dangerous to the public, and in particular to Alexander Morrison. Mr C. N. O’Neill appeared for defendant and pleaded not guilty. Constable McClinchy explained the position and said that the speed was the main basis of the prosecution.

Alex Morrison, Hikutaia, a licensed motor-driver, and the owner of the damaged lorry, said that he was returning to Hikutaia from Paeroa with a load of empty cream cans. He was driving on his right side about a chain and a half from the intersection of Norwood Road. His speed was about six or seven miles an hour. The cans in the lorry were not rattling, and he did not see defendant’s lorry until he was on to it. On a plan witnessed showed the position on the roa l when he was struck, tire distance being about Bft or 9ft. His view of Norwood Road was obscured by a high fence and trees. When the impact occurred he stopped his lorry dead, and defendant also stopped his vehicle. Witness said he did not know defendant. Norwood Road was really a blind road, and lie did not anticipate meeting a lorry at the intersection. To Mr O’Neill witness said that he was almost on top of defendant’s lorry before being struck. He did not know that the hedge ended 6ft from the intersection. Had defendant made a proper turn at the intersection he would have cleared witness’s lorry. Witness said he believed he ' could turn a two-ton truck in a 7ft space.

The Bench said that it was necessary to note that point. Witness said he knew nothing of the type of truck driven by defendant. Harold A. Moore, contractor, Paeroa, said that he was on the lorry witli the last witness, and alleged that defendant had turned out of.Norwood Road on his wrong side. Prior to the impact Morrison had some difficulty in passing a car which tried to hug the wrong si,de of. the road. Morrison’s speed would be about five or six miles an hour. The lorry came out on its wrong side on to the main road, and the collision took place on the edge of the clay and gravel. To Mr O’Neill witness said that Morrison’s lorry was struck behind the seat on an angle. The collision took place a foot or so past the end of the footpath. Athol J. Kelly, driver for Messrs Brenan and Co., said that he was returning towards Paeroa and observed Morrison’s lorry coming towards him on its right side- of tlie road. Witness had on a load of metal, and was travelling at about 10 miles an hour and was about 'half a chain from the site of tlie collision. He estimated that defendant took tlie corner at about I's miles an hour, and more on his wrong side than his right. The position taken by defendant to negotiate the corner was reasonable.

To Mr O'Neill witness said that the course followed at the corner by defendant was a reasonable one, but he appeared to accelerate his engine, which might lead one to suppose that he was driving faster tnah he actually was.

Constable McClinchy stated that Morrison had called at the police station and reported the collision. Witness inspected the locality and found defendant’s vehicle on the left-hand side of the road and Morrison’s on tlie other side of the road. Details of Morrison’s damaged lorry were given. The elder brother of defendant had stated to witness that all his firm’s vehicles were insured, and he would see that Morrison’s lorry was towed to a garage. Morrison was on his correct driving side, and had defendant kept to his right side of tlie road when turning the corner the accident could have been avoided. THE DEFENCE. Beechey Spencer, defendant, stated that he was engaged on a metalling contract, and before turning out of Norwood Road he had sounded the horn and looked up and down the road as far as the vision permitted. Had he not accelerated a head-on collision would have occurred. His speedy about 10 miles an hour, was quite normal under the circumstances. He had only about 120 yards of Norwood Road to traverse before reaching the main road and in that distance he changed gears twice, and it was not mechanically possible to have been driving an an excessive speed. Having seen a Ford car travelling on the clay side of the road before turning, he thought that there could not have been a lorry on the clay road also. To Constable McClinchy witness admitted that he lost no time on the road, but he took reasonable precautions.

Thomas Bardsley, Borough Council employee, said- that he was engaged on spreading metal on Norwood Road and heard defendant sound the horn before taking the corner. In his opinion defendant had made a normal and reasonable turn on to the main road.

The case at this stage was adjourned to enable the magistrate to inspect the locality.