Clipped kerb and rolled car

A 23 year old care worker from Banbridge, who clipped a verge and rolled his car onto its roof, appeared before the local court last week charged with careless driving.

Gary McAlinden from Iveagh Drive was fined £200 and given four penalty points. The court heard he already had six points on his licence.

A PPS Prosecutor explained how on 30 October last at 4.16pm, police received a report of a one vehicle road traffic accident at the Castlewellan Road, Banbridge.

When officers arrived they found a red Seat Ibiza car lying on its roof blocking both lanes of traffic. McAlinden claimed that he was driving out of Banbridge towards Katesbridge when he clipped his car against the verge rolling it and sliding for some distance.

Solicitor Mr Paul Downey said this was a “bizarre accident” as McAlinden travels this road on a daily basis. “It would appear he lost concentration allowing the car to veer.”

He added, “There was no question of speed and this is an accident blackspot.”