Clock description: Hour hand between 8 and 9. The minute hand is replaced by a shaded yellow region spanning from near the 5 to near the 7, indicating that the minute hand is somewhere within that region.

One morning when you leave your house, you witness an automobile accident in your street. You look at your watch when it happens. Later that day you are invited to the police station to give a formal witness statement about the accident. The police officer is trying to establish a detailed timeline of the event. He asks you: "What time did the accident happen?" You remember that it happened in the time range shown on the clock as given above.

How would you answer in this situation? (Fill the blank)

"It happened ___."

Actual time shown: 8:26-8:34
Answer: "It happened about half past eight."

Why did you choose to answer this way?
Accurate, but indicated that I was not certain about the exact time.