BLINDED BY SUN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 777, 25 September 1929, Page 7

BLINDED BY SUN

COLLISION ON KAMO HILL NEGLIGENT DRIVING CHARGE From Our Own Correspondent WHANGAREI, Today. A charge of driving a motor-truck in a manner dangerous to the public was preferred against Ernest Edward Hughes at the Whangarei Magistrate’s Court yesterday as a sequel to an accident which occurred on Kamo Hill on July IS. The magistrate, Mr. G. X. 'Morris, dismissed the cas_e. Senior-Sergeant O’Grady said that at about 4.15 p.m. a lorry with a big log driven by A. King was proceeding down Kamo Hill. Defendant came up with a load of footballers returning home and passed a stationary lorry on the incline. He then swerved across and capsized King's lorry. King stated that he was proceeding down Kamo Hill on his correct side. He saw another truck (stationary) on the correct side of the road between his own truck and that of defendant. Defendant passed the stationary truck safely, and then swerved slightly to the left and then to tlie right, knocking witness’s truck over. Defendant had not been travelling fast and afterward he told witness that he had not seen him on account of the sun. Apart from the sun there was no explanation of the accident. Hughes said that he had just passed the stationary lorry when the sun blinded him. He did not see the other truck approaching, and afterward told the driver that the sun caused the accident. Defendant was not aware that ho had turned to the wrong side, having lost all sense of direction by his temporary blindness. The magistrate said that the sun appeared to be the only factor. The evidence showed that if defendant had kept straight on or to the left he would have been all right, but he had swerved to the right. There was a doubt however as to-the cause of the swerve, and accordingly he would dismiss the charge. .