Driver causes highway chaos

By Khadija Hadjab

May 14, 2024

In court: Wyuna man faces court after highway mishap.

A truck driver who spilled 17 bales of silage over the road has faced court.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

John Lingard, 42, from Wyuna, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to driving disqualified and using a heavy vehicle in breach of load requirements.

Prosecutor Senior Constable Kerrie Thomson told the court Lingard was driving a Kenworth prime mover on the Murray Valley Hwy at Kotupna on October 27 last year.

His truck was carrying 41 silage bales when two tie straps broke, spilling 17 bales onto the road.

Lingard had previously been banned from driving for 12 months on December 5, 2022.

Senior Constable Thomson said Lingard told police that he didn’t know his licence had been cancelled.

Representing himself in court, Lingard told the judge that he was “going through a lot of trouble at home” at the time and was driving because he was “just trying to pay my bills”.

Magistrate Peter Mithen imposed a $1000 fine but didn’t interfere with Lingard’s driver’s licence, noting that Lingard needed to support his family.