Driver looking at dash

A man whose car collided into the back of another car turning right on the N4 was looking at a light on his dashboard, Sligo District Court heard.

Before the court was Vladmir Stankovic (27) a Serbian national who was charged with dangerous driving which was reduced to careless driving at Ardloy, Riverstown on November 12 2017.

Mr Tom MacSharry solicitor (defending) said his client was pleading guilty to careless driving.

Inspector Donal Sweeney said that on the date in question at 7:05pm a three car collision occurred on the N4 with two adults and three children sustaining minor injuries.

He said Stankovic admitted he was looking at the dash and didn’t see the car stopped in front of him. His car collided with the rear end of the car which then collided with an oncoming car.

The court heard the defendant who works in Lidl was staying in the Clayton Hotel in Sligo and was working on the day in question in the Lidl store in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Warning lights were appearing on the dash of the car when he left Carrick-on-Shannon that evening.

He said at no stage was he using his phone and he was completely aware of all the cars on the road.

It was a very dark evening.

The defendant said he saw a dark coloured Audi in front of him and that just before the collision he looked at the display on the dash and he didn’t see the car turn on its indicator.

He said he then felt the crash and all he remembered seeing was white inside the car. He got out and the male driver of the Audi asked him to help get the children out of the car.

Mr MacSharry said his client was from Serbia and on a business assignment in Ireland.

He had rented the car and he was not used to driving it.

There were a number of lights flashing on its dashboard display.

He said it was momentary lapse of concentration and that he client pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of careless driving. He had no previous convictions.

Judge Kevin Kilrane said Stankovic failed to see the car stopped and turning right into a junction.

He said that it did not amount to dangerous driving where a person does something that is clearly dangerous, speeding excessively or driving a defective vehicle for example.

Mr MacSharry said his client was training to be a manager of a Lidl supermarket and was only in Ireland on an assignment.

He said his client who was in court was prepared to pay the fine forthwith as he had to go back to Serbia.

Judge Kilrane said in the circumstances he was going to fine him €250. Mr MacSharry said his client was most grateful.