Man's £350 fine for crane collision

Andrew Staddon skidded 20ft after smashing into the bridge in Hordern Road, Whitmore Reans, before crashing into a passing van and then a car, fracturing the female driver's rib.

The crash, which happened just yards from where extensive gas works had been taking place, saw traffic backed up to from Aldersley Road to Lower Green while paramedics and police cleared the scene.

Buses from Pendeford and Codsall were among seven services to be diverted.

Staddon, aged 39, had seven points endorsed on his licence by Wolverhampton magistrates yesterday and was fined £350. He pleaded guilty by letter to driving without due care and attention and wrote a letter to the court apologising.

Robert Lesar, prosecuting, handed magistrates pictures of the crash, which happened on August 20 last year. He said: "This is what happens when a driver uses a heavy goods lorry but forgets to lower his crane before reaching a bridge. "Whilst there is a hum-ourous aspect to it, that humour quickly disappears when you realise what happened next, with the vehicle deflecting off the bridge and hitting two cars.

"A witness observed it hitting the bridge and saw sparks and debris come off it. The van was dragged 20ft during the accident."

Mr Lesar said the father-of-three, of St Georges Road, Shirley, was only eight days into a new job as a lorry driver when he went down the road without realising the crane had not been lowered to the ground.

Mr Lesar added: "In the letter, he says the mandatory device which should of reminded him of the crane being up did not work, and that he needed his job for his family.

"It was a loss of attention that caused this to happen. He says 'I've got 13 years experience of driving lorries, I can only apologise again'."

"So while there is an amusing side to this, that amusement is lost when you consider the impact it had."