Youth sent for trial over fatal collision with cyclist

Press, 9 December 1983, Page 9

Youth sent for trial over fatal collision with cyclist

Evidence that a youth had fatally injured a woman cyclist with his car after travelling past road works at the intersection of Bealey Avenue and Papanui Road, and had then told his passengers to help push-start his car to drive away from the scene, was given in the District court yesterday. Mitchell Stuart Hooper, aged 17, a machinist, was committed for trial by jury in the District Court after depositions of evidence had been heard yesterday on three driving charges relating to the accident. . They were of causing the death of Antonia May Dillon by carelessly using a ear while travelling at an excessive speed; failing to stop when, as a result of the accident, another person was injured; and failing to ascertain injury. Messrs R. M. Naysmith and C. E. R. Wise, Justices of the Peace, held there was sufficient evidence to commit the defendant for trial. They remanded him on bail to January 20, pending a date for trial.

Mrs Dillon, aged 45, who was the mother of six children, died at the scene from multiple injuries. In a statement allegedly made to the police, the defendant said he had been “yahooing” about before the accident, and had panicked and got his passengers to help push-start the car to drive away after the collision, which he blamed on road works at the intersec-

tion. Police evidence was given that investigations at the accident scene showed that skid marks continued from the northern portion of the intersection at the road works drums, for about 30m to the point of impact. Mrs Dillon’s body was found in Papanui Road, 28m away, and on the opposite side of the road, from the collision and her bicycle was found 16m further on, near the middle of the road.

A youth, aged 16, said he was a passenger in the defendant’s car, accompanying him on a drive in the city.

The defendant had driven all right until they reached the beginning of Victoria Street, when he skidded round the corner into this street.

He travelled north along Victoria Street at about 65 to 70km/h. The witness told him to slow down for the lights, as there were road works drums in the intersection. At the intersection the defendant slowed down slightly to about 65 km/h. He thought the defendant swerved to the left to miss the drums. One was sticking out a bit and he must have hit that and swerved left, right, and left again. The youth said that at that stage the car must have hit the cyclist because the car’s windscreen shattered. He did not see the cyclist before the accident. The car engine was run-

ning, but then stopped after the collision, and the defendant told the youth and the other passenger to get out and push. The defendant urged them to keep on pushing, and said he thought he had killed some-one on a bicycle, and that they had better not tell anybody about it. The car started and the defendant told them to get in and he then drove off.

The youth told the defendant he should go back and have a look but he thought the defendant replied that the person could be dead.

The defendant was half crying, and “real panicky.” He then drove home.

Later they drove past the accident scene to get to witness’s car.

The passengers tried to talk the defendant into giving himself up but he told them he did not want to. The defendant was dropped off at his home and was picked up the next morning and the three drove around discussing the accident. The defendant then decided to call at the police station to report the matter. In a statement made to Senior Constable M. W. E. Smith, the defendant allegedly said that before the accident he had been showing off and “yahooing about.”

He was travelling about 65km/h in Victoria Street. At the intersection with Bealey Avenue the lights were green so he did not

slow down much and went through the intersection at about 55 to 65 km/h. Just before the middle of the intersection he saw drums in the middle of the road. He moved to the left to go round a drum and then felt the rear of his car slide. At the same time he noticed a woman on a bicylce on his left, six to seven car lengths ahead of him.

He straightened his car up after the slide and as he drove round a drum he saw that the cyclist was about 4.5 m ahead. He did not know what happened then but the windscreen shattered, with glass everywhere, and he heard a smash and thought he must have hit the cyclist. He stopped the car and the engine stopped and he and his passengers pushed it into a small side street. He told his passengers to keep pushing as they had to get out of it. The statement said the defendant started to panic and was not sure what to do. He just wanted to “get the hell out of it.”

He thought about going back to the scene but was too scared.

He was not drunk, but was scared because of the smash. He had had a few drinks earlier but felt he was okay to drive.

His statement said that when he drove through the traffic lights before the smash he was just being an idiot.

After they had pushstarted the car and he drove towards his home he was pretty scared and had second thoughts about returning and seeing the cyclist, but decided not to. He parked his car in an avenue near his home as he did not want his father to see it. When his father asked where it was he said he had got a flat tyre. He had told his passengers not to mention about the accident as he thought they would be able to fix the car without anybody knowing anything about it. He said his passengers said .they would say somebody' had stolen the car.

The next morning he went for a drive with his two passengers, trying to figure out what to do.

He bought a newspaper and saw that the cyclist had died, and felt pretty bad about it.

He then decided he should report the accident.

His statement said he regretted that the accident had occurred. He was sorry he did not go back and check. He was too scared to stop as he thought he had probably killed somebody.

The defendant’s statement said that he thought that sticks and drums in the middle of the road were the trouble. Constable Smith said that during the interview he found the defendant to be honest, and remorseful for his actions.