Tired Lorry Driver Causes Crash

A German lorry driver has been remanded in custody after he admitted causing the death of a woman he drove into her path having driven hundreds of miles without a break.

Caernarfon Crown Court heard that Rolf Artmann from Dortmund had driven from Dover to north Wales but that he was not tired.

The 54 year old was heading to a plastics factory in Amlwch when crashed into the Suzuki car being driven by Dorothy Tomas, 63, who lived locally.

Admitting fault, Artmann had admitted that the lorry had drifted onto the wrong side of the road and through a translator said: "I agree it was my mistake."

He has been remanded in custody until April 25 by Judge Michael Farmer QC and told to expect a prison sentence. He went on to say that there is "only one sentence which is appropriate, and inevitable, of immediate custody and a period of disqualification."

David Urpeth, a Partner at law firm Irwin Mitchell said: "Tiredness is often a major cause of road traffic accidents. In this case, the driver drove for significant distances without breaks. Lorry drivers regularly have to drive long distances, so it is imperative that they have appropriate rests so as to avoid causing road traffic crashes.

"I represent many people who have been injured or killed in road traffic collisions in circumstances that should not have occurred."