Gallaty is accused of hitting Traffic Magistrate Stephanie Gillett, who said that he then left the scene of the accident

Phillip Gallaty, 56, a resident of 876 Bella Vista and the manager of Victor L. Bryant and Company Limited, pleaded not guilty to driving without due care and attention when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer on Thursday afternoon.

But before Frazer read the charge to him, Gallaty told the court that he had not been aware that he had been involved in a traffic accident.

The alleged accident reportedly occurred on Saturday, March 22, 2014 around Mile 2 ½ on the Philip Goldson Highway, and it involved a vehicle driven by Belize City Traffic Magistrate Stephanie Gillett, 39.

Gallaty said that he first became aware that he had been involved in a traffic accident when police showed up at his office with a warrant for his arrest.

The allegations are that on Saturday, March 22, at around 12:15 p.m., Gallaty drove his white Toyota Hilux pickup truck, bearing license plate BZC403871, without due care and attention.

According to a report from Gillett, her vehicle was parked in front of Friendship Restaurant when Gallaty reversed into her vehicle and hit the front right side bumper, causing minor damages to it.

But according to Gillett’s report, after the traffic mishap, Gallaty did not stop to see what he had done, or the damage he had caused to her vehicle.

Gillett reported that he just sped off, leaving the scene of the accident.

Magistrate Gillett had reported the matter to the traffic police that same Saturday, and requested court action.