MOTOR CRASHES INTO FENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2775, 23 August 1924, Page 3

MOTOR CRASHES INTO FENCE.

—* DRIVER. ARRESTED FOR DRUNKENNESS. CONVICTED AND FINED £lO. At about ten minutes past, six last night a- six-cylinder Buick car crashed into the post at the south end of the Triangle, and, narrowly missing the iron lamp post, continued on its way towards the monument, snapping off four posts of the post and chain fence in its course, finally being pulled up by the chains which had become entangled round the wheels. The front axle and bonnet and mudguard were badly knocked about but fortunately no one was in jured. In conversation with Mr T. Elcrs, one of the oceiq-shjits of the ear, our representative was informed that there were three other persons in the car at the time, Messrs McDonald (driver) and Richards (owner) in the front seat and Messrs T. Elers and Hakaria in the back seat. Mr Elers says that on nearing the Triangle they met another car coining into Foxton from Palmerston. Both ears dimmed and the driver did not notice the Triangle Anee. Tie did not recognise the ether ear. which, lie said, did not stop. The wheel marks of the damaged ear show that previous to hitting the Triangle fence it. was on the side of the road a few feet from the footpath near the auction mart and had swerved up to the Triangle.

At the local police court this morning, before Messrs Fraser and Perreau, J.’sP., Charles McDonald, arrested the previous evening for drunkenness while in charge of a motor car and who was subsequen11y released on hail, for the sum of £lO, did not appear to auswer the charge.

Evidence was given by Constable Owen and Constable Ryan to tlie effect that the accused, while in custody, admitted having come from Eketalmna yesterday morning and had taken drinks at Pahiat.ua, Palmerston N. and Longburn. He also admitted having visited several local hotels and partaken of drinks in each. When arrested accused was considerably under the influence of liquor and was not. in a tit condition to be iu charge of a ear. Whey the car started off from.the Post Office Hotel, it passed a car on the wrong side near Whyte’s Hotel and making towards the Triangle appeared to turn as if making towards the Beach. When about 25 yards from the Triangle, the driver appeared to change his mind and swung the ear in the direction of Park St. and collided with several of the posts akmg the eastern side of the Triangle. The lights on the car were in perfect order. The car appeared to lie travelling at about 25 miles per hour, but was not materially damaged. Accused was convicted and fined £lO in default two months imprisonment.