Marks Tey: Dutch trucker guilty of careless driving

5:00pm Thursday 20th November 2008

A lorry driver whose trailer overturned on an A120 roundabout and spilled some of his load has admitted careless driving.

Dutch national Johannes Van Nierop had admitted the charge when he appeared before magistrates yesterday.

Robin Harrison, prosecuting, told the court Van Nierop was involved in a collision with another lorry on the A120 between Coggeshall and Marks Tey at about 5am on August 5.

He was making a regular deliveries in the country having arrived from Holland via Harwich, Mr Harrison said, when the accident happened.

The court heard as they both tried to negotiate a roundabout, Van Nierop’s articulated lorry trailer clipped the kerb and overturned.

No-one was injured but when police arrived, Van Nierop told them it had been his fault, added Mr Harrison.

The court heard a breath test led officers to take another sample at the station but by this time it was below the legal limit and a charge of driving with excess alcohol was yesterday withdrawn.

Richard Tinkler, mitigating, said Van Nierop had a previously clean driving licence and a great deal of experience driving lorries.

“As he approached the roundabout it went into single-lane traffic and as the other lorry came the other way, there was a hesitation from both as to who would go first and then they both went, which led to him clipping the kerb,” he said.

Magistrates fined him £150 along with a £15 victim surcharge. His licence will be endorsed with three points.

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