Lorry driver admits train bridge crash

Alorry driver brought part of the rail network to a standstill by crashing his 25-tonne truck into a rail bridge last year.

Mark Flatt was driving a lorry with a trailer more than 15ft high when he tried to go under the bridge with 14ft of clearance.

Trains between Aberdeen and Perth were stopped while checks were carried out on the bridge.

Yesterday at Perth Sheriff Court, Flatt admitted driving carelessly on

August 31 last year and crashing into the Tay Street bridge.

He admitted failing to observe signs on the bridge and trying to drive under it in a vehicle higher than the permitted height.

The court was told he got lost and ended up in the centre of Perth.

Fiscal depute Lisa Marshall told the court: “The accused is an HGV driver. It was a lorry coupled with a three-axel curtain-sided trailer.

“Just after 2pm the accused was travelling north on the Edinburgh Road. He then turned onto Tay Street. He failed to take notice of the warning signs in relation to the bridge.

“The roof of the trailer struck the bridge and the accused brought the vehicle to a halt.

“Due to it being a railway bridge, Network Rail were informed and a caution was placed on it until the bridge structure and lines could be checked.”

Mrs Marshall told the court the lorry was 13ft 2in

tall, while the trailer was 15ft 3in. The bridge was restricted to 14ft clearance.

She said Network Rail engineers confirmed the bridge integrity was not compromised and restrictions were lifted.

Pauline Cullerton, defending, said her client normally drove flat-bed trucks. “He took the wrong

exit at Broxden roundabout and ended up in Perth town centre in error. He was trying to find his way out of Perth.

“He had simply not thought about the height of the trailer, given his lack of experience driving highsided trailers.

“He immediately stopped and was able to reverse

back out. Disqualification will cause him to lose his employment.”

She said Flatt already had six points on his licence and could face suspension by the Traffic Commissioner.

Sentence on Flatt, 54, Southbourne Road, Bournemouth, was deferred until February 18 by Sheriff Neil Bowie.

SCENE: The low rail bridge in Tay Street, Perth, damaged by the HGV.