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| Whitland train crash: Oswald Davies' suspended jail term | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A hay truck driver who caused a train crash injuring passengers has been given a suspended jail sentence. | |
| Oswald Davies, 49, was told he had shown a "high degree of neglect" after admitting endangering passengers' lives at Whitland, Carmarthenshire. | Oswald Davies, 49, was told he had shown a "high degree of neglect" after admitting endangering passengers' lives at Whitland, Carmarthenshire. |
| The driver of the Milford Haven to Manchester train could not stop in time after spotting the lorry across the line, Swansea Crown Court heard. | The driver of the Milford Haven to Manchester train could not stop in time after spotting the lorry across the line, Swansea Crown Court heard. |
| Davies' nine-month sentence was suspended for 18 months. | Davies' nine-month sentence was suspended for 18 months. |
| The court heard 24 passengers suffered minor injuries in the accident which caused £250,000 in damages to the train and the cost of diverting services. | The court heard 24 passengers suffered minor injuries in the accident which caused £250,000 in damages to the train and the cost of diverting services. |
| Bales of hay were scattered across the track after the train hit the lorry on the Henllan Amgoed railway crossing. | Bales of hay were scattered across the track after the train hit the lorry on the Henllan Amgoed railway crossing. |
| Davies, of Llanboidy, Carmarthen, was also ordered to carry out 300 hours of community work. | Davies, of Llanboidy, Carmarthen, was also ordered to carry out 300 hours of community work. |
| 'Warning' | 'Warning' |
| Judge Keith Thomas told him: "There was a high degree of neglect on your part. | Judge Keith Thomas told him: "There was a high degree of neglect on your part. |
| "You were driving a truck and trailer carrying hay towards a sign telling drivers they must stop and phone to obtain permission to cross the line. | "You were driving a truck and trailer carrying hay towards a sign telling drivers they must stop and phone to obtain permission to cross the line. |
| "You did not obey the sign." | "You did not obey the sign." |
| The court heard Davies had driven over the same crossing hundreds of times in the past few years. | The court heard Davies had driven over the same crossing hundreds of times in the past few years. |
| He told Swansea Crown Court: "I was terrified when it happened but thankfully no-one was killed." | |
| But he claimed he did not think that the signs warning long-load drivers applied to him. | But he claimed he did not think that the signs warning long-load drivers applied to him. |
| Judge Thomas said: "This deserves a custodial sentence but because of Davies's good character I am able to suspend the sentence." | Judge Thomas said: "This deserves a custodial sentence but because of Davies's good character I am able to suspend the sentence." |