Hit-and-run driver ‘sorry’

Press, 17 March 1977, Page 4

Hit-and-run driver ‘sorry’

Because of “shocking driving” by Wayne Allan Blackwell, a 17-year-old girl would be in hospital for 12 months undergoing plastic surgery, said Mr N. L. Bradford, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Blackwell, aged 17, an apprentice mechanic, had pleaded guilty to three charges after a hit-and-run accident last January.

The victim, Julie Anne Drain, suffered serious leg injuries in the accident. Blackwell was charged with causing bodily injury to Miss Drain, failing to stop after an accident, and failing to find out if injury had occurred.

“Your actions shocked the community and I hope this has sunk into you,” the Magistrate said. “I don’t think there would have been a citizen in the community

who would have disagreed if I had sent you to prison for a short time.

“Notwithstanding your age, I gave lengthy and careful consideration to the probable sentence, and kept coming back, again and again, to a conclusion I’ve only been able to meet with difficulty — that you should be imprisoned for a short period. “The reason for such a sentence would be to underline the seriousness of the offence and to act as a salutary punishment to you for your callous act,” said the Magistrate.

“You ran away after the accident and tried to cover up your tracks by cutting up the number plates."

Blackwell was sentenced to six months periodic detention and was disqualified from driving for six years,

Counsel (Mr M. J. Glue) said that Blackwell was ashamed of himself for what he had done and regretted very much the results for the unfortunate girl. An application for a limited licence was declined.

The Court had been told that on January 21, at 10.15 p.m., Blackwell was the driver of a car on Colombo Street. He swerved to the wrong side of the road to avoid another car and struck a power cyclist, Miss Drain. After crashing into a shop window, Blackwell drove off. The hit-and-run vehicle was found later in a wrecker's yard where it had been painted and the number plates cut up.

Blackwell had told the police he had not stopped because he was scared. He had planned to enter the vehicle in a speedway demolition derby.