MOTORIST FAILS TO STOP

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 772, 19 September 1929, Page 10

MOTORIST FAILS TO STOP

WORKMAN INJURED DAMAGES AGAINST DRIVER From Our Own Correspondent PUKEKOHE. Wednesday. •'I have to discard what the defendant has said, as he apparently has not told tho truth,” said Mr. K. H. Levierj, S.M.. in the Pukekohe Court this afterFollowing injuries through being knocked over by a car on the Rangiriri deviation, Albert Victor Johanson proceeded against Frederick A. Staig and was successful in his claim for £3O 2s damages. Mr. E. G. Foster appeared for plaintiff and Mr. Wiseman for defendant. The plaintiff related that he was engaged on metalling work on the deviation, one half of the width of the road being closed, when he was struck from behind by a car and his right arm injured. A fellow workman. George Samway, said he did not hear defendant sound his horn, and he managed to jump clear or he would have been struck. Staig had an unrestricted view of about seven chains. He slowed up after striking Johanson, looked back and then proceeded ahead. Several workmen hailed defendant to stop, and even when witness threw a stone at the car it did not have the desired effect. Frank Ramsay, a lorry driver, said he noted the number of the car. He pursued Staig for a distance of three miles, but he could not sight him. The defendant Staig told the court that he was stopped at the entrance to the narrow strip of road by a man regulating traffic. He ploughed through the loose metal in low gear, and after passing a group of workmen heard a bump. Staig said he then stopped, his wife saying shrb saw a man holding his elbow. When she told him the men had signalled to go ahead he set off again. The defendant’s wife said that the car was stopped because there was shouting, and later contradicted the statement by saying the stop was made because of the bumps heard. In entering judgment the magistrate remarked that according to the defendant and his wife they had driven on different sides of the road. Defendant was ordered to pay £6 17s 6d costs. Staig was proceeded against by Inspector E. H. Barrett, of the Main Highways Board, on charges of negligent driving and failing to stop. He was fined £2 with costs 10s on each charge.