Toddler, mother unhurt after their car is rear-ended

A toddler escaped injury thanks to his child safety seat when a stationary car in which he was a passenger was rear-ended.

The car was hit by a vehicle driven by a 43-year-old Warwick woman, who had failed to stop at temporary traffic lights by the Reefs on Monday. The driver of the stationary car, a 44-year-old Southampton woman, was not injured, while the boy in the rear of her vehicle was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) for evaluation.

A Police spokesman reported that the child suffered no injury because he was properly restrained in a child safety seat at the time of the collision. The Warwick woman complained of soreness to her body and was taken to KEMH for evaluation but was later released.

Hospitals recruiting in the USA

A US firm is recruiting nurses in the States for the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Worldwide Travel Staffing (WTS) said in a statement last week that two of its executives were recently given a tour of the Island's "state-of-the-art" facility — a description not normally used in connection with the ageing and soon-to-be replaced KEMH.

The company, based in Tonawanda, New York State, said it was the only US firm currently recruiting on behalf of KEMH and the Bermuda Hospitals Board.

The statement said Leo Blatz, CEO of WTS, and business development vice president Todd Cleckley "recently met with hospital officials in Hamilton, Bermuda, to finalise contract negotiations and toured the state-of-the-art facility".

It added that Bermuda was experiencing a shortage of nurses, physicians, and allied health care professionals, forcing it to look beyond its borders for staff. "WTS will have its first American nurse on Bermuda in April 2009, with others to follow in the coming months."

Cyclist snatches woman's handbag

Tourists from New York were the victims of a handbag snatch in Hamilton Parish.

The 23-year-old woman and 25-year-old man were riding their rental cycle near the junction of North Shore Road and Sleepy Hollow Drive at about 8.20 p.m. Monday, when a man on a motorcycle rode up behind them. He took the woman's black handbag which contained two Nintendo DS's and personal items from the cycle's basket and escaped on his bike.

Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with any information about this incident to contact St. George's Criminal Investigation Unit on 293-2222.

Tourist fined $1,000 for having cannabis

A tourist was fined $1,000 after being caught with seven marijuana cigarettes at L.F. Wade International Airport.

Sniffer dogs were alerted to Mark Lubanko, 51, of Latting Town, New York, following his flight from New York at 2 p.m. on Thursday.

He was searched and the cannabis was discovered in a cigarette box in his jacket pocket. Lubanko admitted it was marijuana and was arrested, with tests showing the cigarettes contained 3.59 grammes of cannabis. Pleading guilty in Magistrates' Court yesterday, Lubanko said he was embarrassed and apologised to the people of Bermuda.

Driver left crash scene fearing assault

A drunk driver crashed his car into a motorcyclist and then fled when he feared the victim was going to kick his backside.

Ivan Butterfield, 49, yesterday told Magistrates' Court about the incident: "I did stop and got out to the guy. The guy wanted to kick my backside. That's why I left the scene."

He admitted drunk driving and failing to stop after the accident on Frog Lane, Devonshire, on Boxing Day at about 8 p.m.

Butterfield told the court he got out of the car and advised the victim: "Forget the bike, forget the bike. Are you all right?"

He said the victim aggressively replied: "What are you doing?" and then Butterfield "jetted it, man".

Butterfield, of Schools Drive, Devonshire, said he had believed he was safe to drive because he had been drinking early in the afternoon and no longer felt drunk. Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner fined him $1,000 for drunk driving and disqualified him from driving for 12 months. He was fined a further $300 for failing to stop and was awarded a total of 17 demerit points against his licence.

Argus donates cameras to MAWI

An in-house fund-raiser at the Argus Group saw employees donate more than $1,200 towards the purchase of digital cameras for clients at the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MAWI).

The cameras will be used to create works for an October exhibit at the Bermuda Society of Arts, 'Photo Voice: Can You Hear Me Now?'

Approximately 30 MAWI clients are expected to participate in the project.

Said Gerald Simons, president and chief executive officer of the Argus Group: "Over the years Argus has enjoyed a valuable and productive relationship with the Bermuda Hospitals Board.

"When we learned that the occupational therapists at MAWI were appealing to the community to donate cameras that they no longer use, we recognised that purchasing new cameras for the clients would be an excellent opportunity to show our support for an important partner."

The cameras were recently delivered to MAWI by Argus employees.