Lorry driver accepts crash guilt
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/north_west/7331190.stm Version 0 of 1. A German lorry driver who drove hundreds of miles across Britain without taking a break has admitted causing the death of a woman in Wales. Rolf Artmann, 54, from Dortmund, drove into the path of Dorothy Thomas, 63, at Amlwch, Anglesey, early last Thursday. Caernarfon Crown Court heard he had driven direct from Dover to north Wales but claimed he had not been tired. Judge Michael Farmer QC remanded him into custody until 25 April and warned him to expect a prison sentence. The court heard Artmann was on the A5025 driving across Anglesey, heading for a plastics factory in Amlwch, when he crashed into the Suzuki car driven by Ms Thomas, who lived locally. Artmann maintained he was not tired and had intended to rest at the factory. But he admitted he had drifted on to the wrong side when the crash happened at Cerrigman, near Amlwch, shortly after 0100 GMT. Entering his guilty plea through a translator, the defendant said: "I agree it was my mistake." 'Custody' Artmann was described as "deeply sorry" for the pain caused to the victim's family. The prosecution dropped tachograph offences and allegations of failing to take required rests. The judge said: "There's really only one sentence which is appropriate, and inevitable, of immediate custody and a period of disqualification." |