Victims very ill

VICTIMS ARE ‘VERY ILL’

Car out of control

Three Midland holiday-makers injured at Dartmeet when a car went out of control were said yesterday to be “very ill.”

They were Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Mousley, of Walmley Road, Sutton Coldfield, and Mr. Francis Rogers, of The Smithy, Middleton, near Tamworth.

The three, with Mrs. Francis Rogers and Mr. John Rogers, also of Middleton, near Tamworth, were on holiday at Shaldon, Devon, and were on a coach tour of Dartmoor when the accident happened.

Yesterday’s report about Mrs. Rogers and Mr. John Rogers was that their condition had improved slightly.

(Birmingham Daily Post, 10th July 1956)

Hurled off a bridge in Devon

CORONER CRITICISES L-LICENCES LAW

Driver Whose Car Killed Tamworth Man Had Held Ten

The law relating to drivers with provisional licences was criticised by the South Devon Coroner, Mr. E. Hutchings, at the inquest yesterday on John Victor Rogers (53), a master printer, of Stile Road, Tamworth, who, while on Dartmeet Bridge on July 7 was hurled, with another man, into the River Dart after a car had run away on the hill above.

“Here you have a flagrant example of a man who has applied for provisional driving licences on ten occasions covering 2½ years and who by law is permitted to drive on the roads if he is accompanied by an experienced driver,” the coroner said. “What could an experienced driver do in an instance like this unless the car had dual control? He could do nothing.”

Handbrake Failed

A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned and the coroner said there was insufficient evidence to justify a verdict of manslaughter. However, he intended to suggest to the Ministry of Transport that the law relating to drivers with provisional licences should be altered at once.

Dr. A. E. Miller said that death was due to multiple injuries after shock.

Mrs. Mary Rogers said that she and her husband and several other persons were standing by the bridge parapet when they heard a car coming down the hill at a terrific speed.

“I can remember my husband saying ‘He is coming for us,'” she said. “I was knocked down and could not see my husband. I went along calling for him.”

Roy D. Bruty (21), of Ilford, London, said he was a passenger in the car. The driver was a learner. As they came down the hill they saw a stationary car whose driver waved them on to pass. Suddenly their car gathered speed and the handbrake was put on, but it did not stop it.

Police evidence hhowed [sic] that the handbrake system of the car had jammed, probably caused by the heat generated coming down the hill.

Could Not Pass Test

The driver, Arthur R. Appleton (37), of Barkingside, London, a gasworks stoker, said that he had held ten provisional driving licences covering a period of 2½ years. During that time he had never been able to pass a driving test.

The Coroner: What on earth made you undertake this journey of nearly 300 miles within a month of failing your last test?

Appleton: I had Mr. Bruty accompanying me and I thought we could enjoy the holiday just the same. He said that an examiner had failed him in the test because he was over-confident.

(Birmingham Daily Post, 11th September 1956)