South Yorkshire Times, December 23, 1932

Dragged Down Sticking Hill by Lorry

Driver Sent To Prison

An accident in Sticking Hill, Adwick-on- Dearne, on November 24th, which involved a young Bolton driver, had a sequel on Tuesday at Doncaster when the driver, Francis A. Unwin, 159, Learns Road, Bolton, was summoned for driving a motor-cycle without a licence, and George E. Carter, a Retford haulage contractor, with having driven a lorry to the danger of the public and without efficient brakes.

Supt. A. J. Minty said it was not an ordinary case. About 2.30 p.m. on November 24th Unwin was driving his motor -cycle from Mexborough to Bolton via Sticking Hill. Shortly before going down the hill he passed Carter’s lorry laden with sand. On getting in front of Carter, Unwin saw some wagons pulled up by the side of the road. As he was passing them he was struck from behind by the lorry which was overtaking him on the hill.

Unwin was knocked off his machine and his foot was pinned between his machine and, the bumper bar of the lorry. He was dragged along and he caught hold of the bumper bar and shouted, “For God’s sake, stop.” The lorry, however, increased its speed. Some people on the hill saw Unwin’s plight and shouted to Carter who appeared unable to pull up until he reached the level. It was found afterwards that Carter had only one efficient brake. Unwin was rather seriously injured, his foot being torn to the bone. Unwin, who appeared on crutches and was allowed to sit, said he was pushed 300 yards by the lorry. He was still under treatment at Mexborough Hospital for his injuries.

Roland Leith, miner, Adwick-on-Dearne, gave evidence of seeing the lorry coming down the hill at a fast speed with sparks flying from underneath the front part of vehicle. As it got nearer he saw the sparks were made by a motor -cycle jammed between the lorry’s front wheels and that a man was clinging to the bumper bar. “I shouted to Carter, ‘For God’s sake, stop,’ and waved my arms. It took him some distance to stop and when he got out he said to Unwin, sorry, kid but I thought I had knocked you clear’.” Unwin after being liberated, was taken to the Montagu Hospital, Mexborough, in a van.

Willie Collinson, clerk. Barnburgh, and Thomas Athron, private ‘bus driver, 7, Edward Street, Swinton, gave similar evidence. Athron added that he tested the brakes of the lorry and found the foot brake useless.

P.c. Baldwin said Carter made the following statement: “I was passing, those wagons and the motor-cyclist wait in front. I bumped him, but I thought he was clear. To tell you the truth I had two tons of sand on my lorry and it is only a 30 cwt. body. We have to do a bit to make a living these days.” Regarding the brakes, Carter stated, “the hand-brake is all right, but the footbrake needs adjusting.” The constable added that he had measured from the point of impact to where Carter stopped, and found it to be 286 yards. Carter admitted his speed was 30 miles per hour.

Carter’s evidence was to the effect that he had been driving eight years and had had only one complaint against him. Just prior to passing down Sticking Hill, he ran through some water which might have affected his footbrake. “I was passing the wagons with Unwin just in front when a trailer of a wagon started rocking. The cyclist steadied up immediately and I was on to him before I knew where I was. I knew I had hit him but he disappeared.”

The Bench described the case as “one of the worst” and sent Carter to prison for three months’ hard labour on the first charge and fined him 40s. on the second, while his licence was suspended for a year. The case against Unwin was dismissed.