Lucky day for truckie in smash

A TRUCK driver who rolled his vehicle on the Bruce Highway is “grateful no one was injured and he survived”, a court has heard.

John Charles Rowe, 49, was driving a refrigerated, rigid truck on the Bruce Highway between Townsville and the Frosty Mango on January 29 when he lost control after a lapse in concentration.

Rowe faced Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday charged with driving without due care and attention.

The court heard about 5.45pm the truck Rowe was driving veered off the edge of the road before the trucker over- corrected.

The vehicle turned sharply back on to the roadway, flipping on to its side and sliding across the wrong side of the road, down an embankment and crashing into a tree.

Fortunately the truck did not collide with any other vehicles but the court heard several motorists had to brake to avoid a collision.

“He took his eyes off the road for a moment,” Rowe’s lawyer Bill O’Toole said.

“He’s grateful that nobody was injured and he survived.

“He copped a knock to the head and has persistent headaches.”

Rowe had a lengthy record of traffic offences which Magistrate Ross Mack described as “a truck driver’s history”.

Mr Mack said road users expected a lot from truck drivers.

“He’s been teased by mates?” Mr Mack asked.

“There’s no point in me saying you have to be more careful, I am sure you are and the good thing is nobody was hurt.”

Rowe was convicted and fined $ 750 with no action taken against his licence. his work-