ALLEGED DANGEROUS DRIVING.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 January 1918, Page 2

ALLEGED DANGEROUS DRIVING.

SPEED OF MOTOR CAR IX DJSVOX ST. At the Magistrate's Court, New Plymouth, yesterday, Afthur Wilding Ogle, of Waitara, was charged on the information of Inspector Day, with on December 20 driving a motor car along Devon street, between die junction of Clinton street and Devon road, and the intersection of Liardet street and Devon street at a speed, greater than 20 miles an hour. He was also charged with driving in such a manner as to ie dangerous to other traffic and with failing to stop when an accident occurred. Mr. A. H. Johnstone appeared for dciendant, who pleaded not guilty on all the charges. In opening the case Inspector Day sai.i it was a most serious one. Defendant, who drove a. powerful ear, was coming into the New Plymouth races from Waitara on the day in question. The accident occurred at the junction of the Mangorei or Hospital road and Devon street. Defendant was travelling very fast'and struck a ear driven by Mr. Grovcr, which came out of the, Mangorei road. He was driving over the speed limit, in a. manner that was dangerous considering the state of the traffic at the time, and he failed to stop as required when the accident took place.. Lewis C. Sladden, surveyor, New Plymouth, said he arrived at the scene of the accident about 11.45 a.m. He found Mr. Grover there with a disabled car. He took measurements the next morning and prepared a plan of the locality. The plan was put in. The grade of Devon street at that point was about ,1 in 22 from the Te Henui to the railway bridge. There are four used roads between Fitzrov and the Te Henui. Several of the roads were largely used, and carry a considerable amount of traffic. Witness knew Mr. Grovcr. He had not met the Borough inspeotoi' until a few days ago. To Mr. Johnsjtone: He was-a friend of Mr. Grover. He drew the plan 'because he thought he might be wked" questions about the accident. 'He Fad not been instructed to make and plans. There was a high bank at either side of the Mangorei road entrance to Devon street and a car coming out of the road could not be seen until it was right through the cutting. The measurements were made on December 27. ' George Grover, Fitzroy, said on the day in question he was proceeding via the Mangorei (or Old Hospital) road to Now Plymouth. On approaching the corner 'he slowed down to about five miles iier hour, sounded the horn and took the eornerj keeping a good look-out ' for traffic, lie did not seen any car approaching. When just round .tlje cor ner a large car came along on the right hand side of his car and crashed into it, disabling the steering gear, and sending the car into the concrete kerb. The other* car did not stop. It was full of passengers who all looked round, excepting the driver. He took the number of the car which was T.23C; and he also took the names of Messrs Bundle and Orbell, who were witnesses of the accident. The other car 'iva,-; travelling at a .big speed, and by the deep roar of ;he exhaust lie would say it was goinj at least 40, and probably 50 miles an hour. He had been driving for over three years and had never had a collision. The ;:,.r was going down hill when it struck witness' ear. The grade from Hospital road to Devon street was a very "gentle one. To Mr. Johnstone: Coming out of Mangorei road the view was obstructed by banks on either side. It was impossible to see east or west, until right through the cutting. When through the cutting looking eastwards it would be possible to sec about 50 yards io top of hill. He did not see any car coming when he came out'on to Deyon street. Mr. Sladden came up just after the accident. Witness said 'lie had an accident on one occasion when lie was unfortunate enough to run over -,i boy. but not. through any fault of witnesi lie sounded his horn repeatedly and slowed down at the corner on the dav of the acrid ent. He was exasperated, when the accident happened, nt seeing the driver ol the other car go on without stopping- to see what had happened. He was right round the corner but pt-rhaps not quite straight on when the car struck him. Mr. Johnstone: I put it to you that it was your duty to turn sharply on coming out of the Mangorei road. "Witness: And so I did. Richmond S. Rundlc driver, New Plymonth, said that on the 2(lth December at about 11.30 a.m. lu was working in an elevated position at the corner, of the Oh! Hospital road and Devon street.- He saw Mr Grover coming out (if the Hospital road in his motor car.-..-Another ear coming from the direction of Waitara struck Mr. Grover's car somewhere near the. front. The impact was considerable and bent the wheel of Mr. Graver's car in under the engine. The offending car was travelling at a fast speed. The car did not stop to ascertain what injury had been done. The speed of the car from Waitara was not reduced after the accident. Air. Grover turned the corner very carefully and slowly. He certainly did not- turn narrowly. Witness measured the distance from the mark of the inner wheel of Grover's car to the kerb, and it would be not more than 10ft. To Mr. Johnstone: Was working on a section opposite the Hospital road. Grover's car was not fully on to Devon street when the other car struck: him. Grover could have seen from 75 yards to l'OI) yards,to the brow of the hill .when he came out on to Devon street. When Grover's car was coming out of t'lie Mangorei road the other car would be about 75 yards. Mr. Grover should have seen the cur if lie had looked for it. To the Magistrate: Did not think Mr. Grover could have done anything else if lie had seen the car. John E. A. H. Orbell, residing at Ureti, said he was near the scene of the accident on the day in question. He saw the two cars collide. Grover's car was struck. The Waitara car did not- stop after the accident. The car was going at a "terrific rate." Witness was on the town side of the Old Hospital rood. Grover was travelling slowly when he turned out on to Devon street. The other car did not slow down after the collision. The Waitara car did not swerve from its course. To Mr. rTohnstone: Mr. Grovcr got out. of bis car after the accident occurred and i turned it in towards the kerb. To Magistrate: The Waitara car did not sound its horn, but Mr. Grover did. Witness was nearly opposite the Hospital road when the cars collided. The collision made only a faint noise. DEFENDANT'S CASK | Arthur Wilding Ogle said he was, on December 26, coming into New Plymouth in his car. At the Fitzroy corner he slowed down to about 10 or 12 miles an hour until-lie got fiis position on the road. After, that the speed was slightly

I increased. He kept about- Bft. from tlif* channel There were sfx persons in Mie. car besides witness,. Hud been driving' u ear for about ten years. At tlie top j of (lie liill lie put the clutch out. He j was about a elm in and a hull away from j Mr. (irover when lie first saw his car I coining out of the road. He did not | think Grover looked in the; direction from which witness was coming. Witness pulled out in order to give Grover room to turn, .lie did not appear to turn as witness expected The bonnet of witness' ear would then be as far out as tlie tram line. Witness said it was his view that drover's car struck his on the rim of the back wheel, on which there was a score. There was also a slight, dent on the mudguard. He did not feel the impact. If he had thought there was i anything in it he would have stopped hia car. The other car was nearly broadside on when witness turned round. The stern of the car was ths kerbing than t'lie front. He heard no horn sounded. He could hot understand the evidence regarding the noise of his exhaust. On the occasion in question, with the clutch out, he could not possibly be travelling at from 4ft to 50 miles an hour. His car was not a fast car. On his-third gear he could tiavel just over 32 miles per hour. To the Magistrate: He, did not contend that a 48h.p. car could'not travel faster than 32 miles per hour. He 'had another gear on his car that would give him an additional 10 miles per hour, but that had not been used for probably twelve months. To Mr. Day: Was going )r tli» races and was not late. He had lived at Waitara for about 35 years and was accustomed to drive into New P.yu- • ntfi. He was hot familiar with all the side road". ■He did not look out for intersecting roads. He was rarely off Devon Street while coming into New Plymouth. Some questions were asked about previous accidents in which witness' had been concerned. Witness said he did travel fast when it was safe to travel fast. At. thii stag? the hearing was adjourned until February 14.