Drunken driver jailed

Press, 29 March 1980, Page 5

Drunken driver jailed

A drunken disqualified man who drove along Riccarton Road at speeds of up to 80 km/h, weaving on to the wrong side of the road and narrowly missing oncoming traffic, struck and seriously injured a young woman and then drove off at high speed with his lights off, Mr Justice Somers was told in the Supreme Court yesterday. His Honour jailed Henry Alfred Holmes, aged 24, for nine months, ordered him to pay costs of $lOO ■ and cancelled his driver’s licence for three years on charges of failing to stop after an accident, dangerous driving and driving ■while disqualifed. Holmes who was represented by Messrs P. G. S. Penlington and E. H. Parsons had pleaded guilty to all charges. Mr N. W. Williamson, appeared for the Crown. ‘ ! i . ■- Evidence was given in the Magistrate’s Court that Julie Soh, aged 22, a student was standing in the centre of Riccarton Road near the Bush Inn waiting for the traffic to pass so she could continue to the other side about 5.40 p.m. on May 9 when she was struck by a car driven by Holmes. She was hurled over the right side of the vehicle, and suffered a fractured pelvis and other injuries.

Leaving the girl lying unconscious on the road Holmes accelerated away at high speed and turned his lights out. to avoid detection. Earlier witnesses had seen Holmes driving erratically at speeds between 75 and 80 km'/h. On two occasions he stooped, opened the car door and vomited.

Mr Penlington said that, fortunately. Miss Soh suffered no permanent injury apart from a weak ankle which would strengthen.

At the time of the offence Holmes was . very intoxicaterL ■ ■