BLACK-OUT COLLISION

Grey River Argus, 18 July 1941, Page 6

BLACK-OUT COLLISION

Motorist Fails to Stop OFFENCE ADMITTED. (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 17. Three charges of failing to stop after an accident were preferred in the Magistrate’s Court against Harold James Kernahan, aged 53, retired. before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M. Kernahan was charged on three counts that on June 17, being the driver of a motor-car, which had been involved in an accident on Fendalton Road, he failed to stop after the accident. The three charges each referred to separate women who were involved in the accident. The women were Doris Whitborkce, Ngaere Park and Eileen Kernahan, who proved, in subsequent evidence, to be the daughter of accused. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail in £lOO was allowed. Ngaere Park, law clerk, said that she was driving her father’s car along Fendalton Road. She had Miss Witbrocke and Miss Kernahan as passengers. Witness stopped the car close to the kerb on the south side of Fendalton Road, opposite Stratford Street. The car’s dim lights were on a few minutes after the car was stopped. Miss Witbrocke and Miss Kernahan got out of the car, and went round to talk to witness, who was in the driver’s seat. Miss Kernahan then said: “Look! out.'” Witness felt a bump at the rear of her car, and the car was pushed forward. When it stopped she saw the two girls lying on the road close to where the car had stopped. Witness was not injured. | Constable T. J. Johnson said that; at 11 p.m. on June 17, he went to ’ Fendalton Police Station, where he examined a hubcap as well as some pieces of greenish-grey paint. With I Constable McKay, he went to 136, I Fendalton Road, where he saw accused. In reply to a question, sai l Constable Johnson, Kernahan replied: “I was driving home along Fendalton Road. When near Stratford Street, a dark object loomed up in front of me.” He added that he felt a bump. He continued on home, thinking it was only a minor scrape. I His daughter arrived home later and explained that she had been in an accident, to which Kernahhn said:,' “It’s a funny thing—l was in one my- i , self. A car was standing in the. middle of the road with no lights.l 1 Somebody was standing by its side.”' ' Constable Johnson said he then ask- < ed the accused: “As a driver, didn’t you think it your duty to ston ?” Ac-' 1 bused replied: “I realise now that 1 I have made a mistake in not stop- J ping to see if anyone was injured.” i “May I have possession of your car”?, 1 asked witness. “Decidedly not” was l the reply. The car was later takenJ _ possession of by warrant. It was a - greenish-grey car. The left hand hub j cap of the front wheel was missing, t and the front mudguard was torn £ and twisted. I