Fined for bad driving
A FIFTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD man was yesterday fined after pleading guilty to negligent driving, failure to stop and render assistance to an injured seven-yearold after an accident.
Herbert Chakanyuka was convicted on his own plea by Harare provincial magistrate, Barbra Mateko.
He was fined $5 000 for failure to stop and render assistance after an accident and $10 000 for negligent driving as well as to have his licence endorsed.
The State, led by Carol Mutimusakwa, proved that on March 28, and at a traffic lights controlled intersection on Borrowdale Road and Harare Drive, Chakanyuka negligently drove his car and hit a pedestrian who is a minor, who was standing at the intersection.
Chakanyuka did not stop to offer assistance and his explanation, in court, was that he was afraid of being assaulted by members of the public.
He said he returned later and discovered that the child had been helped by good Samaritans, which prompted him to hand himself over to the police as he was not sure if the child was dead or alive.
The State argued that Chakanyuka was travelling at an excessive speed in the circumstances, failed to exercise high degree of care called for from drivers when they see children, failed to keep a proper outlook, failed to keep the car under proper control and failed to act reasonably when the accident seemed imminent.
Chakanyuka, in mitigation, told the court that he proceeded into the intersection because the traffic light was in his favour.