A driver was yesterday fined $50,000 after pleading guilty to a reckless driving charge in the vicinity of the President’s escort vehicle.
The charge stated that Ewart Darlington on December 22nd at Friendship Public Road drove motor lorry GWW 806, in a manner dangerous to the public.
Darlington pleaded guilty to the charge and stated that a vehicle was parked in the lane he was in and he drove around the vehicle and then saw a police vehicle coming towards him with another vehicle behind it. He said he did not hear the vehicle sirens but saw the flashing light.
The prosecutor’s facts stated that the defendant was heading north on the Friendship Public Road at a fast rate, when the President’s contingent was heading in the opposite direction, with the lights and siren on. The police car that was escorting the other vehicle was about to pass the lorry when the defendant overtook a motor car and ended up into the path of the police escort, as a result the driver had to swerve so as to avoid a collision.
Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan then imposed a $50,000 fine on him, if he is unable to pay the fine he would have to serve eight weeks in prison. Darlington’s licence will also be suspended for a period of three months.
