A TIRED Newfield farmhand who drove his ute across the road near his driveway without looking for oncoming traffic and caused a serious accident will pay $400 to the court fund.
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Garry Trotter, 35, of Port Campbell-Timboon Road, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court yesterday to careless driving.
He was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond and ordered to pay $400 to the court fund.
Magistrate Peter Mellas said Trotter had caused an enormous amount of damage to both vehicles involved in an accident and it was fortunate no one was badly injured.
“Everyone was lucky. It was on a straight stretch of road,” Mr Mellas said.
Police alleged that on July 26 Trotter started work at 5.30am and went home for a break at 11.20am.
Trotter was driving a tray ute along the Port Campbell-Timboon Road and got within about one kilometre of his driveway when he heard a noise, looked down and collided with a Holden Colorado utility travelling in the opposite direction.
Trotter told police he had not been taking any notice of traffic, he was on the wrong side of the road, not concentrating and did not give way.
He said he believed that when he looked down he inadvertently drifted onto the right side of the road.
Trotter said his ute was not insured.
He told the court he now concentrated a lot more when driving.
