Cootes Transport fined for safety breaches after fatal truck crash inquiry

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/08/cootes-transport-fined-safety-breaches

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A trucking company involved in a fatal tanker crash in New South Wales last year has been fined more than $50,000 for safety breaches in Victoria.

Cootes Transport Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to 67 road safety charges after VicRoads and Victoria Police found 139 major defects in the company’s Victorian fleet.

VicRoads said the company came under scrutiny in October last year after the tanker crash in northern Sydney.

Two people were killed and five were injured when the Cootes Transport tanker rolled on its side, burst into flames and collided with several cars at Mona Vale.

The company was ordered to pay more than $500,000 in fines and legal costs after the crash.

For its breaches in Victoria, the Melbourne magistrates court on Wednesday fined the company $50,250.

Cootes Transport said in a statement it had improved the standard of its fleet.

“All servicing and testing procedures have been upgraded and we continue to work closely with the VicRoads and independent certifiers to continue to ensure the integrity of our fleet,” the company said.