MOTOR COLLISION.

Otaki Mail, 6 July 1923, Page 3

MOTOR COLLISION.

JENSEN V. SMITH.

At the Otaki S.M. Court yesterday furthor evidence was given as follows: llans Jensen (Mr. Grant) v. Archie Smith (Mr. Duuklev) —Claim £I2S-17-G for damages to ear, alleged to he due to a collision on Tasman Road. This cas« was partly heard last court-day when tku S.M. said he would view the locality before taking further evidence. Harold F. Gearancke stated: 1 was working for Bolton at the time of the mishap, and was 300 yards away when it occurred. f did not see the actual mishap but l heard a loud report. I went to the scene and found that Jensen'r right front whecd was on the road while the left hand back wheel was on the grass. The front right hand wheel had skidded about three feet. I could not tell exactly where Smith’s ear had been. There were pipes on the roadside, about 2 feet from the edge of the metal,, but there were plenty of room to pass where the mishap occurred. .rensen's tyres were flat when X saw them, while the axle, footboard and mud-guards were damaged. William John Barlow stated: I am a garage proprietor and repaired the damage to Jensen's car. It was generally smashed up. and it took 10 or 1.1 days to effect- repairs. The steering gear was bent, the front tyres torn off. the chassis was beut badly, wbib the mud-guards on one side were practically torn off. The axle was very badly b'«ut. new running boards had to be put on. the stays were bent, while

the engine had to ho attended to a.ilie result of the collision. The battery was badly damaged and could not Inrepaired. The tyres that came off were too bad tu be repaired while the tubes were rendered useless. The hood of the ear was also damaged. I am sure all tho above damage was due to the j collision. j To Mr. Duuldey: The damage to the I

axle would nut be due to ilie " eight, but to the impact. I went to the scene of the accident next morning and found the car partly off the metal. The left wheel was just off, and the right wheel about oft. (jin. on the metal. Archie Smith stated: I am the do fondant. I have had S or ‘J years ex pcrience with cars and have never had un aeeklont. I was going to the beach with an 'empty car when I met Jensen. I gave him plenty of room. My left wheels were just about, off the grass. 1 may have been able to go over a few more inches but did not thick it necessary, lam not a fust driver. Jensen V car struck me suddenly, it seemed to jump out from the side of the road. My axle, running board, and splash board were slightly damaged. The accident happened in good light. I noticed -Jensen’s car was heavily laden. Jansen was running well off the road, and his car stopped dead w hen it struck mine. Jensen said to me “You have been looking for this for a long time.’’ Jonvcn's car was about two-thirds a-! cross the road after the accident. If f had run into him my car would have] been damaged in front. T., Mr. Grant: There i.- no ill-feeling I between Jensen and I. Jensen had plenty of room to pass. To Mr. Dunkloy: My light car could not have .possibly swung his heavily laden car round. Charles Kilsby stated that Smith’s '•at had been struck heavily, nearly ride-on. Xtil Olsen stated: .£ am a taxi-driver, and after the accident saw Jeu??n’.*■ ear partly across the road, and on passing had to pull out to get past. Jensen’s front wheels were past the middle of rho r*ad. I should think the two wheelcaps struck and caused the accident. AVitb a. heavy load on a ear is hal'd to steer, and if it got into a rut it- would come out suddenly. His car had shot right across the road after running in a rut. William Thompson, carter, stated: I laid the pipes on the Tasman Hoad and pul them as far off the road as possible. After the accident I had to remove a pipe so as to get rny dray past Jensen’s car. This was about ten minutes after the e.coidenc. J', Preston Thomas I jeaiom- 1 Jier the- date uL deat< bciltg ! nfar when it occurred. Smith was behi id ru'e, driving slowly. I also passed Jensen'» He nearly Tan into me. and it seemed to mo it swerved and got into the water-table on rhe side of the road. Ho had to turn suddenly to avoid me. After the accident Jensen’s «ar faced partly across the road. To “Mr. Grant: I had to guide rny hors* carefully when passing afterward*. .Jensen seemed to have control of the car when he passed me. i Clinton Jones stated: t am a motor, mechanic of about ALgrearß ’ experience. (Hero followed deHKrof damage done to Smith’s car). He considered Mr. Barlow’s charge for repairs seemed excessive. One day while driving pest Jensen’s car I made a remark that Jensen pulled to the side of the road too saon when meeting a car. Il appeared Jensen had got off the road on the day of the accident and that the wheels had climbed back suddenly. At 1 his stage the S.M. decided to view ihe locality. Judgment reserved.