GIRL HIT BY CAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 April 1946, Page 4

GIRL HIT BY CAR

DRIVER ADMITS HE WAS INTOXICATED FINE OF £l5 IMPOSED The sequel to an accident in Herbert street about 5 o’clock yesterday,, when a girl cyclist was hit by a car' and thrown into the air was the appearance of the driver of the car, Robert Bruce Rutherford, aged 36, single, of Dunedin, before Mr. A. A. McLachlan, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth this morning. He pleaded guilty to a charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a car.

Detective Sergeant C. H. Davis, conducting the prosecution, said that the accused was a returned soldier and Was on holiday. He was staying at a local hotel and had been drinking during the afternoon. He had borrowed a friend’s car, the owner not being aware that the accused was drunk. At 5 o’clock, while driving a friend to hospital to have an eye injury attended to, the accused had run into a girl’who was cycling in Herbert street. He had been apprehended by Detective Sergeant B. H. Constable and Traffic Inspector Ramsay and their suspicions that the accused was drunk were later confirmed by Dr. Andrae. There was a suggestion that the speed of the car at the time of the accident was excessive. The accused had been released on bail of £25. Truck Driver by Occupation. Questioned by the Magistrate, the accused said that he was a truck driver by occupation. He had been driving trucks since he was 16 years of age and had been a driver overseas. He was employed at the Dunedin gasworks and had come to Greymouth for three weeks’ holiday. “You understand that the law provides definitely for the cancellation for a minimum period of the licence of a man found intoxicated in charge of a motor-car,” said the Magistrate. “Will you be able to get work?” “I can’t say,” replied the accused, who pointed out that he had been wounded and that his shoulder would not allow him to do heavy work. If he was deprived of his driver’s license it would make it very hard for him to obtain a livelihood. “Do you often have a few too many?” asked the Magistrate. “No,” replied the accused. “I met a few friends yesterday after they had drawn their gratuities, and one thing led to another. I had eight or nine beers.”

Warning by Magistrate. “You can’t tell me that eight or nine of the' present-day beers would affect you,” replied the Magistrate, whose suggestion that the accused should take out a prohibition order was not accepted. “In the ordinary way, a fine of £lO is imposed and the licence cancelled for 12 months,” said the Magistrate. “In this case, however, there are special circumstances, your livelihood depending on your licence, and you will be fined £l5 and costs and medical expenses, £l/1/-. You may retain your licence, but do not let the court down and repeat this offence.”