MOTOR SMASH AT “THE SLIP”

TAXI IN HEAD‑ON COLLISION WITH DOCTORS’ CAR

CHARGE OF DRUNKEN DRIVING—COURT HEARS DETAILS

A vivid account of the accident at “The Slip,” near the Swansea Baths, was laid before the court yesterday, when David Everette Rees, aged 27, taxi‑driver, appeared charged with driving to the danger of the public, and with being drunk in charge of a motor‑car on the night of June 25th.

The collision occurred outside the Bay View Hotel, when Rees’s taxi, travelling toward Swansea, swerved sharply across the roadway and crashed head‑on into a car carrying three Swansea Hospital doctors and a young lady returning from Mumbles. The impact brought both vehicles to an instant standstill.

Mr. Rupert Lewis, prosecuting, described the scene as one of “violent and sudden impact,” while Mr. J. Francis Lovell, defending, urged the court to consider the circumstances carefully.

Dr. T. R. S. Welsh, one of the doctors involved, gave evidence that the taxi “came straight across” into their path, leaving no time to avoid the collision.

A BRISK RATE

Replying to Mr. Francis Powell, Dr. James stated that although operations had been arranged at the Hospital for 10.30 p.m., there had been no great urgency in their journey. When asked whether their speed might have influenced his judgement, he admitted they were travelling at about 25 miles per hour, “a fairly brisk rate.”

SWERVED TO AVOID MAN

Inspector Williams testified that Rees, questioned the following morning, claimed he had swerved to avoid a man boarding a tramcar, and in doing so collided with the oncoming vehicle. Rees himself suffered two severe lacerated scalp wounds and a blow to the nose.

DRUNKENNESS CHARGE DISMISSED

The Stipendiary, Sir E. Marlay Samson, dismissed the charge of drunkenness, but adjourned the remaining charge of driving to the danger of the public for a fortnight, pending the attendance of the male passenger who had been in the taxi at the time.