Flow Manager fined $500 for two traffic offences

Manager of telecommunications Manager, Wayne Hull was fined in connection after pleading guilty to two road charges in which he struck a Traffic Warden with his vehicle, leaving her with a broken leg.

Hull, 43, appeared at the Serious Offences Court before Senior Magistrate, Colin John, on September 18, 2024 where he pleaded guilty that on April 7, 2024 he, being the driver of motor vehicle T-1492 did drive the said vehicle without due care and attention; and did fail to keep the said vehicle to the left of the road while turning right on another road.

The facts are that about 7:30 p.m, Corporal 870 Woods was on duty at Arnos Vale working at a United Labour Party(ULP) rally when he received a report about an accident at the junction entering the tarmac in the vicinity of Ace Hardware.

When Corporal Woods arrived on the scene, the area was crowded with pedestrians and vehicular traffic. Corporal Woods saw that Traffic Warden Browne was on the ground on the right side of the road in the lane exiting the tarmac.

She was later taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. Corporal Woods also noticed a pick-up on the right side of the road facing in the direction of the tarmac.

On the said night, Browne was directing the traffic flowing from Kingstown onto the tarmac, with all the vehicles having to keep on the left side of that road.

While directing the traffic, Browne turned her back, and a vehicle, licensed T-1492, which was travelling in the direction of Kingstown on the left side of the road, switched to the right side and struck Browne on her right foot.

Browne fell to the ground; her right foot was broken in three places. She also sustained a fractured left foot.

Lawyer, Duane Daniel, who represented Hull in the matter, told the court that while he wasn’t trivializing what occurred, Hull struck Browne by accident.

A video of the incident was shown in court to the Senior Magistrate. Daniel said in that area, one must be mindful of the traffic coming from several directions.

He also pointed out that there was no light in the area, and that the officer had her back turned to the road. Daniel also pointed out that Browne was not wearing a reflective vest at the time of the incident.

“We do not live in a perfect world,” he told the court, adding that it is called “an accident” for a reason. In mitigation, Daniel said that Hull pleaded guilty to the offences and is gainfully employed.

He added that Hull has three children aged 18, 11 and eight, and had no previous convictions. Daniel asked that a fine be imposed.

After considering the facts and mitigation from Daniel, the Senior Magistrate fined Hull $300 for driving without due care and attention, and $200 for failing to keep on the correct side of the road.

The fines were to be paid forthwith, in default of which there would be a three term of imprisonment.