NEGLIGENCE ALLEGED

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22492, 30 October 1944, Page 4

NEGLIGENCE ALLEGED

MAN STRUCK BY MOTOR-CAR

COLLISION NEAR TE AROHA Alfred Leo Pope, aged 37, for whom Mr J. F. String appeared, stood his trial before Mr Justice Smith and a jury in the Supreme Court at Hamilton today, on a charge of negligently driving a motor car and thereby causing actual bodily harm. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr H. T. Gillies, said the trouble occurred when Pope and a companion were leaving Te Aroha in Pope’s car on Saturday, May 20, at about 6 p.m. While Pope was trying to adjust the lights on his old car a cyclist, Charles Henry Mallowes, was knocked over and dragged about 80 to 90 yards, and thereby badly injured. At the time, said Mr Gillies, Pope was a private in the Ist Hauraki Regiment then in camp at the Te Aroha racecourse. Pope was off duty that afternoon and from his home at Te Aroha West he and a companion, Alfred Coutts, drove to Te Aroha, had one or two drinks of beer there, and were on their way home. Just after crossing the traffic bridge the car lights gave trouble and Pope was trying to adjust them. The lights, however, went right out, and just then s6meone called to him .to stop. His friend in the car told him he had knocked someone over.

Thinking the friend was joking, Pope carried on for a few seconds but immediately stopped when he realised something was wrong. It was found, said Mr Gillies, that a cyclist had been knocked over and dragged 80 to 90 yards. There was no suggestion that Pope was intoxicated, and he rendered all the help possible to the injured man. Mallowes was found to be suffering from body bruises and abrasions. After a doctor had attended to him'in a private hospital, Mallowes was taken by ambulance to the Waikato Hospital. Dr W. R. Lawrence, Te Aroha, said he was called to the scene at 6 p.m. and rendered aid to Mallowes, had him transferred to a near-by private hospital for further attention, and then ordered his removal to the Waikato Hospital. At that stage he considered the man’s injuries were very grave, and so bad that he might not survive the journey. The head injuries were extensive, including a torn scalp, lacerations and bruises on the head and shoulders, and minor injuries. The witness said he examined Pope later in the evening, and would not certify him as intoxicated, though he had had some drink. The hearing is proceeding.