The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Man in court after lorry blown over
A Lithuanian lorry driver whose vehicle overturned on the Forth Road Bridge on Tuesday causing major travel disruption, has appeared in court.
Juozas Zilvys, 56, appeared from custody at Dunfermline Sheriff Court and denied dangerous driving.
He was granted bail despite opposition from the Crown, over concerns he may not return to Scotland for his trial.
The bridge was closed in both directions after the lorry was blown over in high winds at 2.50pm.
Zilvys appeared in the dock with a translator.
At one point he became agitated and she had to tell him to keep quiet.
Zilvys denied that on March 14 on the northbound carriageway of the Forth Road Bridge he drove a lorry dangerously, by failing to comply with road signs prohibiting high-sided vehicles including lorries to cross the bridge due to adverse weather conditions and that he drove on the bridge whereby his lorry was blown over on to its side, causing damage to the bridge.
Depute fiscal Claire Bremner opposed bail on the grounds there was a significant risk of Zilvys failing to attend future court hearings.
Defence solicitor Alexander Flett said his client was a married father of three grown-up daughters and his job involved him delivering furniture from Lithuania to Scotland and other parts of the UK once or twice a month.
“I believe the area he lives is covered by the European Arrest Warrant,” added Mr Flett.
“There is nothing to suggest that this gentleman would fail to appear.”
Zilvys, of Lekicial, Lithuania, was granted bail by Sheriff Mark Stewart and trial was set for June 17.
An intermediate diet will take place on June 8.
The court appearance came as bridge operator Amey called on all drivers to heed high-wind warnings.
Amey said that a total of 49 variable message signs on the approaches to the bridge and across the trunk road network had been displaying messages since 11.22am on Tuesday prohibiting high-sided vehicles from crossing the bridge due to high winds.