ROAD TRAGEDY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 May 1939, Page 6

ROAD TRAGEDY

DEATH OF MAN & WOMAN NEAR MOSffIEL LORRY DRIVER ON TRIAL.

CASE FOR THE CROWN

(Bv Association.) DUNEDIN, May. 2.

The trial of William Alexander Tait, aged 29, lorry driver, of Oamaru, on three charges arising out of ah accident on the night of April 15. when a “o>« cnsased couple. Nd Harm Vera Jessie Thomson. were killed o.i Di’kf’s Road, near Mosgiel. was bemrn before Mr Justice Blair and a jury ill the Supreme Court today. ' The Crown Prosecutor. F. E. Adam.,, is conducting the prosecution and accused is represented by Mr J. G. Wai rington. The Charges against Tait are as follows:—That he drove negligently, causing the deaths of Neil Harris and Vera Jessie Thomson; that he was intoxicated while in charge of a mo orcar and caused the deaths of the two persons; that having been involved in an accident! he failed to ascertain what persohs had been injured and to render all practicable assistance. _ , Of its kind the case was serious and rather shocking, said the Crown ProSt. The day after the young couple Wefe killed as the result of the Collision with the truck driven by accused, Tait denied all know edge of the occurrence, but later, When confronted with a statement niade _ by a man who was with him at the time, he admitted that he had been involved m an accident, though he thought that only one person, a man, had been killMr Adains read a statement by accused in which he admitted having had six glasses of beer that- evening, =ome before tea and some afterward,, but, said Mr Adams, the evidence of his companion, McKerrow, suggested that he might have had more The Crown contended, in any case that ho Hrad sufficient liquor to impair his driv'"Tlm’case for the Crown, Mr Adams mid was that an accident between the truck driven by Tait and the motorcycle ridden by Harris, with Mis., Thomson as pillion passenger occurred hard over on the motor-cyclist s side of the road, thus providing grounds foi a charge of negligence. After the accident accused stopped, came back, and by lighting a few matches, saw the body of a man. All he had needed to do W as to back the truck far enough foi hi:; headlights to show the whole sdene and enable him to see that two people had been struck. For a period of about two hour.-, after the accident he drove about the roads between Mosgiel arid Outram, without reporting thb matter to the notice or securing a doctor, and then lost himself, which might be an indication of his condition. _ Evidence was called on similar lines to that given in the Magistrates’ Court, hearing last week. The Crown’s case was unfinished when the Court rose for the day. _______ *