A QUEENSLAND man who crashed a truck into seven trees and a concrete fence while driving in the heart of Penola has received a 14-day licence suspension.
Peter Ashley Stewart, 48, appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court yesterday to be sentenced for the offending.
The prosecutor said Stewart was driving on Church Street on July 19 at 10.30pm when his B-double truck crashed on the eastern side of the road.
The defendant allegedly fell asleep at the wheel, which resulted in the vehicle veering off the road before uprooting seven trees and crashing into a concrete fence.
“There was extensive damage to the truck and there was leaking from the truck’s fuel tank,” the prosecutor said.
“The defendant was ejected from the cabin of the truck and said he fell asleep while driving.”
Stewart said the truck would presumably be written-off and was being assessed by an insurance company.
“I understand I was a significant risk to the community,” he said.
“I should have known better as I grew up in a trucking family.
“I was lucky as it could have been a lot worse.”
As a father of four children, Stewart said he was an excavator operator by trade and would pay any fine.
Magistrate Jack Fahey said it was a “miracle” Stewart did not crash into a vehicle or pedestrian, adding he should consider himself lucky.
Magistrate Fahey took into consideration the “harsh” loss of his truck-driving job and sentenced Stewart with a $900 fine and a 14-day licence suspension.
