ROAD COLLISION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 June 1938, Page 4

ROAD COLLISION

GIRL CYCLIST BADLY INJURED. MOTOR CYCLIST'S LICENCE SUSPENDED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. June 17. A girl, a helpless invalid, is now in hospital as a result of an accident on the Main North Road on the night of May 1. This morning, Raymond John Sheppard, a farm labourer, aged 19; rider of a motor-cycle which collided with the girl's push bicycle, appeared in the Magistrate's Court on a charge of driving at a dangerous speed. He was fined £2 by Mr E. C. Lewy, S.M., and his licence was cancelled and endorsed and he was prohibited from obtaining another for eighteen months. Sub-Inspector Packer prosecuted for the Police and said Sheppard had been riding along at 40 miles an hour, with a pillion rider on his machine. He collided with a girl cyclist who was travelling in the same direction as Sheppard, and as a result of the smash the girl received serious injuries and was now in hospital. It was thought she would not fully recover and probably would be always in an institution. Sheppard had' taken 137 feet to stop after the accident. Counsel for Sheppard said accused had made no attempt to brake his machine after the smash, as he had several teeth knocked out and had not known what had then happened. The accident was caused by Sheppard being temporarily dazzled by lights from cars as he approached a bridge. The Magistrate commented that possibly Sheppard should have been charged with driving in a dangerous manner. Accused, despite his work, would have to do without a motorcycle for some time.