A COLLISION.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18680, 1 May 1926, Page 9

A COLLISION.

MOTORIST WHO DID NOT STOP. PENALTIES REDUCED. "I have decided to alter the penalties 50 that the defendant's wile will suffer as little as possible. On the charge of negligent driving the defendant will be convicted and ordered to pay costs and his license will be suspended for a year. He hns consented to take out a prohibition order against himself, and L will issue the order for 1:2 months.- The collision wa.i due to liquor and the punishment will fall 011 himself," said Mr H. A. Young. S.M., to David McClurc in the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon. David McClurc (Mr A. T. Bell) pleaded not guilty to charges of having incorrect number plates on his car, failing to stop after an accident, and with negligent driving. Senior-Sergeant H. Martin said'that, on March 13th, a car was standing 011 the side of the Sumner road. Two young ladies were sitting in the car and the defendant crashed into it. He then continued on his way. Considerable damage was done to the stationary car.

Itena Lamb said that her fatjicr's car was standing on the side of the road, a, little .beyond Mount Pleasant. V itness and her sister were sitting in the car enjoying the sun. In the mirror she saw the defendant coming along at a speed from 23 to 30 miles an hour. Witness was not surprised when defendant hit them. The spare wheel was pushed through the back of the car, which was moved along about 20 yards by the impact. Witness immediately .jammed the brakes on to avoid running into a post. Defendant extricated his car and immediately went 011. \\ itness s sister called to defendant to stop, but lie took no notice. "Went for His Life." Io Mr Bell: TIIO impact stopped the defendant and then 110 "went for his life." Doris Lamb corroborated the evidence of the previous witness. Constable K. T. Bosworth said that when he interviewed defendant, the latter said that lie had sent in a statement to the Central Poiico Station and refused to make a further statement. Thomas Head fitocker, a garage proprietor, said that defendant told him that be had damaged the car in an accident caused by dazzling headlights 011 the .Saturday night. _ The number plates belonged to a Briscoe car, and McClure had been driving a thrceseatcr Studebaker. To Sir Bell: Witness dismissed defendant from his employ some time before the accident for beirlg drunk in charge of a new car. Witness him a car to take out and sell. Defendant did not report the accident to witness, who had to find out about tiiC matter for himself.

Defendant's Story. Mr Bell said that owing to the ragged nature of the side of the roau, and the condition of one of the front tyres, dofendaut's steering gear did not work as it should have dono. The brakes also were defective as the car was an old one. Defendant stated in evidence that he was employed by Stocker selling cars on a commission basis. The etude--baker was at hi? home 011 the night of March 12th, and on the following afternoon he was ordered to try to sell the Studebaker. He drove a prospective client to Sumner, and on returning ho saw a stationary car on the side of the road and a limouine approaching. was travelling at about 15 miles an hour. The defective tyre pulled him into the stationary car. Directly after the accident, seeing that no one was hurt, lie proceeded to the nearest telephone, but was unable to use the slot box. He had never told Stocker that the accident was caused by dazzling lights. It occured in the afternoon. He had had no drinks. After deliberation, the Magistrate announced that McClure, for negligent driving, would be fined £2O and costs and his license suspended for six months, for failing to stop he would be fined £lO and costs, and on the charge of having incorrect number plates lie would be ordered to pay costs. After the Magistrate had ascertained that the defendant was in poor financial circumstances, he made the alterations in the penalties, fining McClure £0 and costs for failing to stop after the accident, and giving him a month in which to pay.