INSPECTORS PURSUIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22512, 1 September 1936, Page 12

INSPECTORS PURSUIT

SPEEDING MOTOR-CYCLIST SIGNAL TO STOP IGNORED [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Monday Efforts made by a traffic inspector to stop a speeding motor-cyclist were described in the Hamilton Police Court this morning when John Dent Greenwell Oarr (Mr. Johnson) was charged with driving at a dangerous speed, failing to stop when required by the traffic inspector, and driving without a licence. Senior-Sergeant Lambert said that defendant was observed driving at an excessive speed on the main road at Te Rapa by tho traffic inspector, Mr. W. E. Nicholson. There was a man passenger on the pillion. While overtaking tho motor-cycle tho inspector reached a speed of 75 miles an hour. Ho ran alongside at a speed of 72 miles an hour, sounding his siren and motioning tho driver to stop. However, defendant and his passenger merely looked up and laughed. The motor-cyclo then spurted ahead and tho inspector's car dropped behind, continued the senior sergeant. Further along tho road the inspector drew level again, but defendant again ignored tho signal to stop. The inspector then saw a mob of cattle on the road and decided to let the motor-cycle draw away. In attempting to pass tho cattle tho motorcycle hit and jumped over a cow and rolled along tho road for a distance ol 76vds. before coming to rest. Both defendant and tho pillion rider were seriously injured. Mr. Johnson said that as a result of tho accident defendant had suffered a fractured skull, a broken leg and a broken collarbone. Ho had been under hospital treatment for three months, and it was probablo that ho would not bo ablo to work for another five or six months. Ho was at present being supported by his brother. Defendant was convicted on all threo charges, a fine of £1 and costs being imposed on the first two counts. On the charge of driving without a licence he wns convicted and discharged, but prohibited from holding a licence until May 31, 1038.