FAILURE TO STOP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 August 1941, Page 4

FAILURE TO STOP

AFTER MOTOR ACCIDENT IN MASTERTON CHILD SUFFERS INJURY. HASTWELLS MAN COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. Charged with having failed to stop when the vehicle he was driving was involved in an accident, Reginald Guy Thorby, aged 23, Hastwells, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence when he appeared at a special sitting of the Masterton Magistrate's Court this morning. Messrs E. G. Eton and L. J. Taylor, J’s.P., were on the Bench. The police case was conducted by Senior-Sergeant G. A. Doggett.

William James Blinkhorne, farm manager, Colombo Road, Iviasterton, stated in evidence that on July 13 he was driving along Johnstone Street, towards Masterton, when he noticed several children playing on the north side of the road. A lorry approached at a speed of about 30 miles an hour. He saw a child run out in front of the lorry with her head down. He heard the lorry braking and saw it strike the child and drag her a short way. Blinkhorne said he stopped his car and went to the child’s assistance. Medical aid was summoned from a house nearby. The lorry slowed down and someone in the vehicle looked back through the rear window. _ The lorry then went on. Witness said he recognised the lorry, but not the driver. Visibility was good at the time, but in his opinion the accident could not have been avoided on account of the child walking out In front of the lorry. The driver must have known that- he had knocked the child down. Evidence was given by Dr. Archer Hosking who stated that the child, Jacqueline Griffiths, was still in the Masterton hospital. Constable A. W. Nalder stated that he had compared pieces of glass found at the scene of the accident with damaged glass on the vehicle alleged to have been driven by the accused and found that they corresponded. In a statement to the police accused admitted that he should have stopped, but said that he did not have a driver’s licence. Thorby said he had lost his head. He had not had a driver's licence for four years. The accused entered a plea of guilty. Bail was granted in £5O (self) and £5O surety.

Arising out of the above case, Thorby was fined £1 and 10s costs for not having a driver’s licence and the owner of the vehicle, R. J. Terrill, Masterton, was fined 10s and Ils costs for not having a current warrant of fitness for the lorry.