DRIVES ON AFTER ACCIDENT.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20244, 23 May 1931, Page 7

DRIVES ON AFTER ACCIDENT.

DOCTOR FINED £35. MOTOR-CYCLIST, INJURED. Charges of dangerous driving, failing to stop and give assistance after an accident, and of failing; to report an accident were heard against Dr. Bertram H. Gilmour, at the Magistrate's Court yesterday before Mr E. D Mosley, S.M. On the two first charges, to which ho pleaded guilty, he was fined £25 and £lO respectively. Mr W. F. Tracy appeared for defendant. Sub-Inspector P. J. O'Hara said that at 8 p.m. on Apx'il 6th Dr. Gilmour had been driving along Ferry road when, at the intersection of Fitfcgerald avenue, ho had collided with a motorcycle, striking it broadside on. The rider and the pillion passenger bad been thrown on to the road, becoming unconscious. The doctor had not stopped his car, but bad gone on. Later, while a crowd was still gathered about the spot, the car had bedn seen to come back, but had not stopped, and had gone oh toward Sumner. It had been followed, and when caught .up with it had been found that the doctor had with li-im a lady, who was injured about tile face, and that the windscreen had been broken and the mudguard bent. Pursuit of the Oar. Ei'nest Maurice Mason, officer in charge of the Christchurch Free Ambulance, said that when the doctor's car had passed again after the acciaont, some of the crowd had shouted, "That's the car. After itl" He had jumped on the running board of a car; but had lost track of Gilmotir.. He had then got on a motor-cyclo, and bad caught up with him a mile and a half down the road. When spoken to Gilmour had seemed to be suffering from shock, but there was no suggestion of drink whatever. Ho had advised the doctor to fid to the hospital hinlsnlf as lio considered hn vioetlod attention. Mr Tracy said Gilmour had been driving the "baby" car at a speed of about 25 miles per hour and had hot seen the motor-cycle until it was close. He had accelerated to avoid & head-on collision and had struck the cycle With the left-hand mudguard and part of the radiator. Injured by Flying Ctlass. The windscreen of the caj had been shattered, with a considerable amount of Hying glass, and Gilmour had momeutanly lost control: He had found that his passenger was cut about the face, and he had pulled into a gafrage to have a tyre fixed Up while he attended to her injuries. Afterwards He had Rone back to the scene of the accident, but the crowd had c&lled out—4ie had heard some bad lan* guage—and, to put it frankly, he had "funked" it. The thought of mob violence had caused him to drive on. He bad later gone to the hospital, where he had made Certain that the Injuries to the man and the youhg woman who had been on the WOtor-cyole were not serious, From thehospital he had Sone to the police station to report lie accident. • - "It is an adhiir&ble thing' tint through his counsel a man should make so honest a statement of the fttcts," said the Magistrate. "Counsel has made Some serioUs admissions, but they are evidently honest, and 1 run pleased to think that a man in & serious position before the Court has Hot shirked the position, but has made honest admissions through his coun*Beh As far as the offences are editcernedj they are of a BerioUS nature, and hja driving license will have to . go.' 1 For, dangerous driving Or, Gilmour was fined £25 and Ooste, his licenso was cancelled, ana hG was Prohibited from obtaining another Until Dumber Ist, 1931; for tailing to Stop He was fined £lO and costs, and for fail* ing to report the accident fie was convicted and discharged. •