Mexborough and Swinton Times January 20, 1940

Both To Blame

Cars Collide In Black-Out Incident Near Mexborough

A Swinton contractor and a soldier who were driving cars which came into collision on Stickin Hill, Mexborough, appeared at

Doncaster West Riding Court on Tuesday. Harold Johnson (39), of 8, Stephenson Buildings, Swinton, was charged  with with careless driving, failing to stop after an accident; and for failing to report an accident.

Pte. Phillip R. Clark (25) a soldier stationed in the vicinity of Mexborough, who was driving an Army car was summoned for careless driving. Johnson and Clark pleaded “Not Guilty to careless driving, and Johnson pleaded “Not Guilty” to the second charge against him, and “Guilty” to the third.

An Army officer was in Court to watch the case for the soldier

Insp. Gooderson said the case arose out of a collision on December 11th. Defendants were driving in opposite directions when the collision occurred, damaging the offsides of both vehicles. Johnson stopped but when the man Clark came towards him he drove away. Johnson’s car was stopped by police-man and a lamp found on the scene of the accident was missing from his car. It was a question as to who was driving on the proper side.

Arthur Dearden, miner, of 8, Lynn Road, West Melton, said on December 11th he was driving his car along the Adwick Road towards Adwick and was followed by a car driven by Johnson It was dark and there was no white line in the centre of the road for a mile. When he got to Stickin Hill Lane bottom the car driven by Johnson had passed in front of him, and they were both proceeding in the direction of Mexborough. Clark’s car was coming from the direction of Mexborough, and Johnson’s car was on his near side. Johnson was driving steadily and witness was about 20 or 30 Yards behind him. The other car was coming pretty fast and to him a seemed to swerve towards Johnson side of the road. The cars scraped and Johnson stopped after travelling a distance.

Witness asked Johnson why he did not stop sooner and he said that he did not think that an thing important had happened. Witness noticed a rear light round the bend of the road and took it for granted that that was Clark’s car. HTie never had any conversation with Clark.

Gooderson: Can you set any reason why these cars should collide on a road like this.

Witness: There is no white line and it was very dark.

“In Middle of Road”

Corroborative evidence of this statement was given by Albert Ambrose Panther, of 186, Wath Road, Mexborough, a miner, who was a passenger in Johnson’s car. Before the collision occurred he said they were only about 18ins. from the near side. The other car seemed to be in the middle of the road. They travelled 150 yards before stopping. He noticed the red rear light round the bend, and Johnson said there was very little damage done, and they continued. They were there long enough for Clark to have reached them.

Pte. Benjamin Wilkinson, who was a passenger in the other car said they were travelling about 15 to 20 m.p.h. and were on their near side. The other car was also on its proper side until it reached them when it seemed to swerve. They went about ten yards after the collision before stopping, and then proceeded in the direction of the other car which was some 300 yards away. Clark was shouting. The other car started away when they were getting near it.

P.c. Ward said he kept watch on the road in question after the soldier had informed his superiors and the police, and he stopped Johnson’s car. Johnson admitted that he had had a small accident. He said, “I did not see the other car and I was in a hurry to get to work.” Statements made by both men were read.

In evidence Clark said that there was something wrong with the Army car, which was new, and it could not travel at 30 to 40 m.p.h. in third gear.

The Chairman, Mr. M. L Nokes, ordering them to pay 17s. each towards the costs, and fining Johnson 10s. for failing to report an accident said they had both made mistakes. They had not been on their nearsides and the Bench could judge what had caused the accident.