BOY’S ANKLE BROKEN.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17783, 7 August 1929, Page 7

BOY’S ANKLE BROKEN.

BRIDGE STREET COLLISION DRIVER FAILED TO STOP. CHARGES AGAINST TRAVELLER. On the night of June 6, a boy named Ronald Aulin was knocked off his cycle and had his ankle broken at the corner of River Road and Bridge Street. The car which caused the accident did not stop, but drove on along River Road.

To-day, Leslie Ernest Richard Littlejohn, commercial traveller, Wellington, w'as charged at the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court with being concerned in an accident with his car in which he failed to stop and render practical assistance, and with negligent and dangerous driving.

Defendant was represented by Mr J. F. Strang.

Senior-Sergeant Sweeney said the boy was cycling to his home in Hamilton East. He left town about 6 o’clock, and when leaving the Traffic Bridge he noticed a car approaching down Bridge Street. The car cut the corner, collided with the cycle, knocked the boy off the machine and breaking his ankle. The car continued on along River Road without stopping. It was followed by another vehicle whioh overtook it near the Presbyterian Church. Littlejohn, the driver, denied all knowledge of the accident, though the driver of the other vehicle would say that he kept Littlejohn’s car in view and that there was no other car on the road at the time. Ronald. Aulin, 15, said he had crossed the Traffic Bridge on his • lighted cycle, and was just entering Bridge Street when a car proceeding down Bridge Street suddenly cut the corner into River Road, collided with him and knocked him off his machine. Witness said he was on his correct side. The night was dark and wet. The car was a two-seater one, and continued on without stopping after the collision, although witness called out for help. Another car came along a moment later and pursued the one that had turned Into River Road. Car Overtaken. William Hart, farm labourer, Otorohanga, who came upon the scene shortly after the accident, said he heard the boy and a woman scream. He was then about 45 yards from the scene of the accident proceeding towards the bridge. He saw the boy creeping from beneath the car, ( which proceeded Into River Road, and did not stop. The oar cut the corner and did not slow up after the accident. Another car then came on the scene, and

witness asked the driver to pursue the car down River Road. Witness picked up the lamp of the cycle, whioh was

in parts, but quite warm. Leonard Zillwood, garage proprietor, said he was asked by Hart to follow the light of the car proceeding down River Road. This he did, over-

taking the vehicle opposite the Presbyterian Church. He told the driver there had Jjeen an accident, and advised him that the best thing he could -•do was to go back. This the driver decided to do, remarking that he did not knoW anything about it. The car was the only one in River Road at the time.

Enid May Wright, teacher on the staff of the Hamilton Technical School, who was on the Traffic Bridge when the accident happened, said she heard a big crash and someone call out “help.” She hurried to the scene and saw the car turn into River Road, \vhere it continued on Its journey. She remained at the scene of the accident until Zillwood came along, when the red light of the car was still visible In River Road. Witness said she tried to get the number of the car, but was unable to do so. The car seemed to slow down somewhat after entering River Road, and she thought it was going to pull up, but It then accelerated. Unaware of Accident. Constable T. D. Harris, who investigated the case shortly after the accident, said he spoke to Littlejohn, who said he had no knowledge of an accident having happened. He found his bumper out of alignment and a graze on the, outer edge of the left front tyre. There was also evidence of an impact on the rim of the wheel.

Constables Kirby and Andrew gave corroborative evidence, the former stating that Littlejohn and his passenger, one Dagnall, seemed genuinely concerned that an accident should have occurred and sincere in their statement that if their car was the cause of it, they were quite unaware of the fact. Defendant Gives Evidence. Defendant, Leslie fi. R. Littlejohn, said that as he proceeded down Bridge Street to River Road there were no cars preceding him, but there were several approaching across the ■bridge, and one followed him down. He was on his right side of the road, and signalled his intention of turning into River Road. He did not see any cyclist in the vicinity, and had no knowledge of any bump. He was quite unaware of an accident having occurred until Zillwood spoke to him. (Proceeding.)