CRASH INTO CATTLE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20909, 14 September 1939, Page 9

CRASH INTO CATTLE

DRIVER IN COURT ACCIDENT ON WHATAWHATA ROAD OTHER TRAFFIC OFFENCES Arising out of an accident on the Frankton-Whatawhata main highway on August 2, when a lorry ran into a mob of cattle and then injured a drover’s horse, a charge of negligent driving was preferred against Wilfred Leonard Hunt, labourer, of Whatawhata, when he appeared before Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, to-day. A further charge of failing to carry a warrant of fitness for his vehicle was also brought against Hunt, who pleaded not guilty and conducted his own defence. The case for the police was conducted by Senior-Sergeant G. H. Lambert. James Riley, a drover, of Tuhikaramea, said that on August 2 he was driving a mob of cattle towards Whatawhata, and as he was going up a hill Hunt came round the corner towards him in a light van. Witness described the pace of the vehicle as similar to that travelled by an express train. Hunt went right through the cattle, knocked three of them down, and then struck witness’ horse and broke its right rear leg. He would have had the cattle in view for about 100 yards before he ran into them. The van continued down the hill for about 150 yards before it stopped. Accused’s Statement Constable J. Hedley read a statement In which accused said that at the time of the accident he was travelling between 15 and 20 miles an hour. When he came round the bend he did | not have time to do anything before he reached the cattle. He continued down the hill with the Intention of pulling into a gateway. Hunt subsequently produced a warrant of fitness dated August 7, five days later than the accident. Hand-brake of No Use Constable J. Richardson said that when he inspected the car he found that the foot bfake partly worked, but the hand-brake was of no use at all. In his defence Hunt stated that flhe footbrake was in good order, but admitted that the hand-brake was not very good. He had had a warrant of fitness in the car b-ut it had disappeared. “I am out of work at present and am in poor circumstances, so I would make an appeal for leniency,” said accused. “I am a returned soldier and it appears that I might have to go over there again. I have enlisted, so I might have to go to war and get a job that way.” Hunt was convicted on the negligent driving charge and was ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution. In' addition, his driving licence was suspended for three months. On the second charge he was convicted and ordered to pay costs. He was allowed time to pay. Unlighted Cycles Charged with riding unlighted bicycles, Miss J. Adams and Mervyn Paul Skinner were each fined 10s and costs. For failing to have efficient taillights on their cars William Cann, junior, and Roy McDermott were each fined 10s and costs. A fine of 5s was imposed on Frederick Secreton Moorhouse, who was charged with having no tail light on his car, and on a charge of having no warrant of fitness he was fined 10s and costs.