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'HAZARD' OF TRUCK
IN FATAL SMASH
Three witnesses yesterday said that they had
narrowly avoided running into a large waggon
parked in Bruce-street, Nedlands, on the night
that a woman was killed when a car struck the
rear of the truck.
They were giving evidence be
fore the City Coroner (Mr. R.
P. Rodriguez) at an inquest at
the Perth Courthouse yesterday
into the death of Joan New
berry Van Huerck (30), of
Beach-street, Cottesloe, who
was killed early on the morning
of August 22 when a car driven
by her husband-Francis Ar
thur Van Huerck-crashed into
a waggon which had been park
ed by Clarence Henry Saw, of
Denmark.
Laura Elizabeth Norgard, of
Leonard-street, Victoria Park,
Dorothea Rosier Bulford, of
Subiaco-road, Subiaco, Hugh
Vincent Evans, of Blencowe
street, Leederville, and Alec
Sydney Hand, of Genesta-cres
cent, Dalkeith, all said that, at
different times on the night of
August 21, they had had to take
swift action to avoid Saw's
vehicle, which they described as
a "hazard."
Mrs. Norgard and Mr. Evans
said that no rear lights were
burning when they saw the
vehicle.
Mrs. Bulford said that she no
ticed a "reddish glimmer" on
the left-band side, and Mr.
Hand-a motor cyclist-that
he only saw the reflection of his
light in a reflector on the truck.
Overhang
Sgt. R. C. Salter, a motor vehi
cle examiner at the Perth Traffic
Branch, said that on examina
tion of Saw's waggon he found
that the overhang was 29 inches
in excess of the maximum,
lengths allowed by regulations.
A 3ft. extension had been
welded on to the chassis.
This was a contributing factor
to Mrs. Huerck's death, as the
car had travelled underneath
this overhang.
The tail light, which acted in
conjunction with the head and
parking lights, was in an "un
reliable': state.
The "cats eyes" reflectors on
the rear of the truck were 15
inches above the regulation
height.
Mabel Newman Shepherd, of
Bruce-street, said that Saw
stayed the night at the house
she was living in. He left the
truck parked outside. At 10.30
she checked oit the tail light
and found that it was on.
The inquest was adjourned.
Sgt. R. V. Sholl assisted the
Coroner. Mr. N. Byass appeared
for relatives of the deceased, Mr.
R. Haynes for Saw and Mr. K.
HRatfleld for the Motor Vehicle In
surance Trust.
Decision On
Monday
Mr. Justice Virtue, in the
Supreme Court yesterday re
served his decision until Mon
day in a divorce action brought
by Alfred Stanley O'NeiL
On Tuesday, his Honour
heard evidence from the plain
tiff's father, who is ill in bed,
at a house in Nedlands.
O'Neil is claiming divorce
from Bessie Audrey Berryman
O'Neil on the ground of five
years' separation.
Mr. C. B. Gibson and Mr. J. H.
O'Halloran appeared for O'Neil,
and Mr. P. T. P. Burt and Mr.
W. Elphick for Mrs. O'Neil.
Two Divorces
Granted
Mr. Justice Wolff, yesterday in
the Supreme Court, granted
orders nisi for divorce in the
following two undefended
cases, the plaintiff being named
first:
Kazimir Mick Erceg v. Louise
Erceg and Conrad Battilana.
Ground: Adultery.
Dr. J. S. Marian appeared for
the plaintiff and Mr. N. Graham
for the defendant and, the co
defendant on the question of
damages and costs.
Lance Colin White v. Joyce Jean
White and John Underwood
Stanton. Ground: Adultery.
Mr. J. Walton appeared for the
plaintiff and Mr. J. R. Henshaw
for the defendant on the ques
tion of- custody.
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