This afternoon about three o’clock a somewhat serious accident happened at Rushden. The motor ’bus on the Raunds route was being driven up Church-street at a brisk pace, and on turning the slight bend at Alfred-street encountered some congested traffic. In his endeavours to avoid it the driver crashed into a four-wheel vehicle standing outside Mr. Lawrence’s shop.
The horse was forced on the path, smashing the window, and the front of the vehicle was simply mangled. Another horse and four-wheel were standing on the same side of the street facing High-street, the two vehicles being back-to-back and practically touching. The latter was impelled with great force a distance of several yards but fortunately the horse did not bolt.
The horse struck by the ‘bus was injured rather badly in the neck. There is a deep cut mark on the road, pointing to the fact that the wheel of the ‘bus was held by the brake so tightly that it ceased to revolve for two yards. There is another similar mark on the pavement probably caused by the smashed vehicle.
The ‘bus, which was stranded on the right side of the road for some time, subsequently proceeded on its way.
6th February
Wellingborough Police Court
Rushden Accident
Fredk. Wm. Hoare, motor ‘bus driver, Wellingborough was summoned for driving a motor car on the highway negligently at Rushden on Jan. 16.
Mr. J. C. Parker prosecuted and Mr. Alex Farr, Bedford, defended.
This case arose out of an accident in Church-street, Rushden, when a motor ‘bus collided with a trolley the horse attached to which was shot through a window.
According to Mr. Parker’s opening statement, the occurrence was caused by the driver allowing his attention to be diverted by some one offering him an orange.
George Robinson, the owner of the trolley who first gave evidence, said in cross-examination that the road was greasy and the driver was on his right side but at the moment of the collision the car was diverted across the road.
P.S. Brumby, who visited the scene after the accident, said there was no sign of the ‘bus having skidded, although the driver told him the front wheel did skid across the road and thus caused him to run into the trolley.
Robinson, recalled by the Bench, said that his claim for compensation had been settled, upon which the Chairman remarked that the magistrates did not think it was necessary to press the case further.
Mr. Parker said he was bound to go on with the case in the interests of the public safety. This was not, he said, a civil case.
The Chairman : You can go on if you like, but I don’t think you’ll get a conviction.
Mr. Parker : With all respect to the Bench I must put up with that.
Further evidence was then called to show that the driver was speaking to someone who was running beside the ‘bus at the time of the accident.
Mr. Farr, addressing the Bench for the defence, contended there was not the slightest evidence of negligence.
Evidence was given by the defendant and the Bench dismissed the case, the chairman remarking that they were of opinion that something attracted the attention of the driver, but they could not say he was driving negligently.
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