A Newry lorry driver who narrowly missed two vehicles as he attempted to clear a bottle of Coke from his footwell has been handed four penalty points.
Court heard that police observed the 51-year-old’s lorry veer onto the wrong side of road forcing an oncoming motorist to take evasive action.
Sean Maguire, of Cottage Road, entered a plea by post, to driving without due care and attention, at Craigavon Magistrates’ on Friday.
Prosecution outlined that on April 25, an unmarked police car was following behind a lorry, driven by the defendant, on the Tandragee Road, Portadown.
Officers observed as the lorry drifted into the wrong lane narrowly missing an oncoming vehicle which had to take evasive action.
Maguire then re-positioned himself on the correct side of the road and police continued to follow.
The defendant was stopped after her almost collided with another vehicle at the junction with Mahon Road.
Police spoke to Maguire who claimed he had veered as he tried to reach a bottle of Coke which had fallen at the pedals of the lorry.
The defendant was handed four penalty points and ordered to pay a fine of £200, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 12 weeks.
