Maryport Man fined for Careless  Driving.

William WOOD (28), 7 Station Street, Maryport,  summoned at Brampton Police Court on Wednesday for driving a motor car without due care and attention on the highway at Irthington Road End at 1-55 p.m. on the  18th April was fined £2 and costs, his license being endorsed.

Mr. G. W. DAVIDSON appeared on behalf of  WOOD.

The principal witness was Frank William FARRER, school  teacher,
Castlesteads, Brampton, who stated he was driving his car in the vicinity of Irthington Road End on the afternoon in question in second gear at  the time. When opposite the road end he saw a saloon car approach , but he heard  no indication of its approach as the car came from the side road. This car came straight for him. He pulled into the centre of the road so that the defendant’s car might avoid him, but a broadside collision followed.

FARRER’s car was  toppled over, the body being completely wrecked. Witness sustained a cut over  the forehead was off work suffering from shock. FARRER said he was traveling  at a speed of 10 miles an hour when the collision  occurred.

Mr. Davidson suggested to witness that when he saw  WOOD’s car coming he went over to the wrong side of the  road.

Witness said he pulled out to avoid the defendant’s  car, but defendant’s car struck him broadside on and toppled his car completely  over. If he had reduced his speed he could have avoided me quite easily added  the witness.

Mr. DAVIDSON: I have it in evidence that you got in between him and the fence.

Two young men named R. E. SCAMBLER and W. Irving KENNEDY, who witnessed the collision, said FARRER was well on his own side. He  was bowled clean over by the defendant’s car.

P. C. ROBINSON gave evidence as to the width of the  road where the impact occurred.

Mr. DAVIDSON said there was a conflict of evidence as  to what took place. When WOOD saw FARRER’s car he considered there was ample  time to get across to the other side of the road. Then FARRER seemed to suddenly  wake up and become aware that there was another vehicle on the road. He swerved,  as if trying to get between him and the fence, the result being an  accident.

WOOD stated that he was going at about a crawl as he  came to the main road. He saw FARRER’s car some distance away. He kept on his  left side of the road, and was taking quite a sweep round and was over to the  centre of the road when FARRER made a swerve. The latter seemed to wake up and  he pulled right out in front of his car and the impact followed. Defendant said  he did not sound his horn.

Elizabeth WOOD, wife of defendant, also gave evidence  and expressed the opinion that the accident was due to Mr. FARRER swerving