Truckie in court for cattle crash
Good driving record saves licence
A TRUCK driver who rolled his cattle truck in Toowoomba leaving some beasts having to be put down has been fined but escaped losing his driver’s licence.
Magistrate Viviana Keegan said it wasn’t mandatory to disqualify Wayne Robert Pholi’s driver’s licence which he would need to continue working and pay his fine.
Pholi’s prime mover and trailer had 60 cattle on board when he approached the James St/Cohoe St intersection about 4.54pm, August 20, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.
He later told police the cattle had moved to the right as he rounded the bend and the truck toppled over because of the weight shift, blocking all western bound traffic and one lane of eastern bound traffic.
Though he had claimed to be doing just 35kmh as he went around the bend, police accident investigators found his truck to have been doing at least 45kmh, 10kmh above the recommended speed, police prosecutor Rowan Brewster-Webb told the court.
Most of the cattle had been contained to the trailer after the crash but 15 beasts had to be put down due to injuries sustained in the incident, Mr Brewster-Webb said.
Fortunately, no other cars were involved and no person injured, the court heard.
Pholi, 46, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention.
Magistrate Keegan noted Pholi had a good traffic record with nothing of like nature and fined him $1500.