NEW YEAR’S DAY MOTOR ACCIDENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3920, 19 March 1929, Page 3

NEW YEAR’S DAY MOTOR ACCIDENT.

SEQUEL HEARD IN PALMERSTON NORTH COURT,

A sequel to the motor accident which occurred on the SandonFoxton road on New Year’s Day, resulting in the deatli of Oliver Leslie Anderson, a local youth, was heard in the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., when A. E. Julian, taxi-driver of Levin, was charged with failing to clear a ear driven by J. B. Coley of Poxton in which deceased was a passenger, by 18 feet before moving into the pas-sage-way of the ear. It was. explained that the case was an echo of a motor accident which occurred on the SandonFoxton highway about a mile south of Waitohi road When two ears were returning 1 from the M'arton races, one being a Ford, driven by Mr. J. 13. Coley, of Poxton, and the other, a heavy ear, by Mr. A. E. Julian, of Levin. In a depression of the road Julian overtook Coley and just after he had passed, the Ford cap-sized-in the swamp. One of the passengers named Anderson, suffer ed injuries from which lie subsequently died. At the inquest opinions differed as to the cause of the accident, some witnesses considering that Julian’s car had touched the front .wheels of the Ford in passing and breaking the steering rod.

J. B. Coley gave evidence concerning the mishap and said that the steering rod seemed to him to be a new one. He considered that the bump given his front wheel by -Julian’s car as it passed had caused the break. G. Williams, of Poxton, a passenger in the car, also gave evidence as to the Ford being humped by defendant's car. Constable Bell, of Foxton, Who took statements from both Coley and Julian, stated that the latter admitted touching Coley’s car in passing, although he didn’t feel the bump. Mr. iCooper, counsel for defendant, submitted that the charge had not been substantiated. The ears inight have touched in passing, but that did not say defendant had taken the passage-way from Coley. Mr. iCooper also referred to the finding of the Coroner at the inquest when the latter had said that if the weight of the evidence Was to be believed, the steering rod was faulty. The Magistrate concurred that it was possible for cars to touch hi passing a driver not break the legulation under which defendant 'was charged. The case was accordingly dismissed.