INTOXICATED DRIVER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 6, 21 January 1942, Page 5

INTOXICATED DRIVER

CARS CRASH OVER BANK SKQUBL TO OHOPE ROAD ACCIDENT At yesterday's sitting of the Court, Thomas Brogan, a retired farmer resident at Ohope', pleaded guilty to driving a motor car while in a state of intoxication on Saturday last and was fined £15 with £111- costs by Mr E. L. Walton, S.M. His driving licence was alsio. cancelled for 12 months. Sergeant M. Farre.ll stated that the offender had visited Whakatane on Saturday and apparently spent most of the day in hotels as he had been observed after (> p.m. in an advanced state of intoxication. A friend had endeavoured to remove Brogan from his car but failed, so followed the intoxicated driver who was noticed to be driving' in an erratic manner. • Brogan continued towards Ohope nnd near the Mokorua Golf Links went over the bank somersaulting for some 30 feet down a hill. He escaped unhurt and two hours later was examined by Dr A. W. Fletcher Cole and pronounced to be still intoxicated. The defendant was a respected citizen and had not previously been befoire the court. For the defendant, Mr B. S. Barry Stated that the Sergeant was incorrect in saying the friend had endeavoured to get Brogan to leave the car. He had noticed the defendant driving anil followed in an endeavour tci overtake him but had failed. The defendant had been on his way home after assisting a friend with haymaking and it was admitted that he had had several drinks. The steering gear of his ear was slightly defective and the vehicle had been in a garage only to iintl parts were unavailable. On the way to Ohope a skid had developed in loose metal a considerable amount of which was on the road with the result that the ear went off the read. Mr Barry continued that Brogan was alone in the ear which being extensively damaged would penalise the owner to the extent of about £80 in repairs. Counsel concluded that the defendant was a retired farmer, highly respected who had no previous convictions.