From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Accident report detailing a collision between a 35-EX Phantom III and a horse near Paris.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 113\4\ scan0056 | |
| Date | 28th January 1937 | |
| To D/L. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/PR.1/JH.2.1.37. Report on Accident to 35-EX Phantom III 28.1.37. I took over this car from I. Waller a few miles outside Paris in the direction of Chateauroux, three miles before entering Lamatte aevron at about six o'clock; my speed was approximately 50 M.P.H. and in the distance an on coming car with headlamps full on was approaching. I reduced my speed and dipped my lamps simultaniously, the oncoming car did not respond by dipping, so I again flicked my lamps as a signal for him to do so, I was blinded by his lights which continued full on, I was braking lightly to still further reduce my speed, suddenly I caught sight of a pair of led horses side by side in the road ahead and at a very close distance. I braked heavily and swerved to avoid collision with them, at the same time concentrating to avoid collision with the oncoming car, which was drawing closer. The squealing of my tyres presumably caused the out-side horse to rear and turn his hindquarters across my path, thereby still further reducing my margin of clearance, the car struck thehorse on the hindquarters, the combined impact and braking brought the car to a standstill. The car being damaged badly as described by I. Waller. As I was well over to my left, I immediately drove the car over to the right hand side grass verge to avoid obstruction while ascertaining the extent of injury to I. Waller and Benham; the man who was leading the horses came up and told us one of his horses was injured and the other had bolted. After Waller had climbed out of the back of the car we then found the horse dead and the man lying deside it; he had a cut on the cheek but showed no signs of serious injuries. I drove the car to a nearby farm, where they telephoned for a doctor to attend the injured man. I was uninjured, Waller has detailed his own, and Behnam's injuries. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/P.H.Rose. | ||