A speeding articulated lorry driver who lost control of his trailer when police tried to stop him threw his licence to officers and warned them to “get back” due to Covid.
Kieran O’Hanlon was spotted by police in the early hours of the morning going too fast on Wellington Road.
When the 53-year-old spotted officers behind him, he braked harshly, causing his trailer to “veer from left to right uncontrollably”.
O’Hanlon did then stop for the officers but was “not particularly cooperative”, flinging his licence to the police and asking them to keep their distance.
‘Travelling faster than other vehicles’
Fiscal depute Eabha Sweeney told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the incident happened around 1.50am on March 17 2021 while police were monitoring traffic on Nigg Kirk Road.
Ms Sweeney said: “A white articulated lorry with a trailer attached passed the junction at excessive speed.
“The officers noticed the vehicle was travelling faster than other vehicles and moved to pull it over.
“As the police vehicle began to move off, the lorry began to brake heavily.”
The lorry was stopped a short distance from the junction but not before officers spotted the trailer “veering” in an “uncontrolled” manner while it was braking.
Ms Sweeney said: “The accused did not appear to be engaging and was not particularly cooperative.
“He threw his driving licence to the police and stated ‘Covid, get back please’.”
O’Hanlon, of High Street, St Combs, pled guilty to careless driving.
Defence agent Stephanie Milligan said her client had been driving HGVs since the age of 18 and drove for long distances.
She added he had been involved in a serious accident 18 years ago and suffered a dislocated disc in his back which had affected him more over the years.
Sheriff Andrew Miller fined O’Hanlon, who was not personally present, £160 and gave him three penalty points.
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