VIC: Truck driver fined after sending stubbies flying

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-1999
VIC: Truck driver fined after sending stubbies flying

A truck driver who hit a bridge on a busy Melbourne street sending thousands of stubbies of
beer flying and causing traffic chaos has been convicted and fined in a Melbourne Court.

RONALD LEWIS, 36 of Yallambie, was not aware of the height of the load of beer cartons when
he hit the Swan Street Bridge in inner suburban Richmond on January 6 last year.

LEWIS told Melbourne Magistrates Court he'd never driven a truck that size before and he
did not ask about the height of the load because that was not the normal practice at work.

The Linfox truck driver was carrying 1,540 cartons of beer on 22 pallets, valued at about
$40,000.

Magistrate HEATHER SPOONER said any reasonable and prudent driver holding a heavy vehicle
licence would have and should have made the appropriate enquiries about the height of the
vehicle and seen the sign.

LEWIS had pleaded not guilty to carrying an insecure load and careless driving.

Ms SPOONER dismissed the first charge and found Lewis guilty of careless driving and
convicted and fined him $400.

AAP RTV cmc/sp/er/rg/jn

KEYWORD: LEWIS (MELBOURNE)

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.