Bus driver found guilty of careless driving causing accident

A BUS driver was found guilty by the Mt Hagen District Court of careless driving causing accident yesterday.
The 37-year-old driver identified as Wally from Mt Hagen Central, Western Highlands, pleaded guilty.
Police told the court that on Oct 3, at Highlands Tyres, along the Highlands Highway, Wally, who was driving a 16-seater bus, allegedly hit a boy who was walking on the side of the road.
Police said the victim was hit from behind.
Wally was arrested and charged with careless driving under the Road Traffic Act and released on a K200 police bail.
Magistrate Lydia Karre asked the prosecution about the extent of the victim’s injuries but was told they did not have that information.
The victim was not present in court and no medical report was produced by the police to assist the court.
Wally told the court that he hit the boy on the shoulder with the vehicle’s left rear vision mirror.
Karre said careless driving causing accident was a frequent occurrence in the province. Wally also confirmed that he had not compensated the victim.
Karre found Wally guilty of the charge and adjourned the case to next Wednesday for sentencing.
She asked the probation officer to interview Wally and compile a pre-sentence report for the court.
In another traffic matter, David Kene, from Nebilyer, pleaded not guilty to the charge of careless driving.
Police alleged that Kene drove without due care along the Wapip section of the road at Nebilyer on July 21 and caused an accident.
Karre extended his bail of K500 and ordered him to return to court on Oct 30 for the trial.