MOTORIST'S DUTY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 134, 23 June 1937, Page 5

MOTORIST'S DUTY

Any Accident Causing Injury Must be Reported MAGISTRATE'S COMMENT An accident dausing injury must be repoxted promptly tO 'the police. This was emphasised in the Hastings Magistrate's Court this morning when Flora Walker appeared before Mr J. Miller, S.M., charged with negligiently driving a motor-car in Russell street, and failing to report to ihe police, an accideDt causing injury. Defendant, who pleaded guilty to both charges, was represented by Mr D. P, Scannell. Fines of £1 on the first charge aud £2 on the second, with costs of 10/in each case, were imposed. Defexidant stfuck a girl oyclist, said Senior-Sergeant G. Sivyer, and cotttinueff on round the corner before stoppitig, otiL the wtong side of the road. The cyclist got up, but those ixi the car did not go back to iUVestigate and did not report the aceidefit to the police. The cyclist had takeU the ttumber of the car. Mr Scaiinel said that it was a case whex'e eaCh thought the other wotild stop. There had been little time to manoeuvre, and the car had just caught the back wheel of the cycle. Mr Miller: I will accept your explanation on the first charge, but that does ndt excuse her from not comitig to the pdlice. Mr Scannell; They thought the girl was not injured. Mr Miller: That is where people seem to have a wrong impression. Thti injury does not need to be a eeriouS one. No matter bow minor the injury, it must he reported. Septicaemia catt often result from a small scratch or cut. . Mr Scannell: The girl got up and rode away and it seemed to Miss Walker that she would have to chase her. Mr Miller: This is not borne out by the police evidence. We art not treating this fis a hit-and-run case, becauie they did stop, but it is the motbfist'g place to find out the natufe bf thfc ilxjurxes. In ixo notifyiUg the police a grave offence Was cOmmittfed.