Car accident news
11/10/2011

Man fined for driving into school lollipop man

A motorist has been fined for causing a road traffic accident after he hit a lollipop man as he tried to escort a child across a busy road.

The 73-year-old school crossing patrol officer had been standing in the A12 Yarmouth Road in Lowestoft displaying his stop sign so that school children could cross safely, when the MG convertible drove into the back of him.

The lollipop man was knocked onto the bonnet of the car, shattering the windscreen and sustained personal injuries to his arm, face, and legs as a result of the collision.

The 27-year-old driver of the MG pleaded not guilty to driving without due care and attention following the road traffic accident which took place in February, claiming that the sun had blinded his visibility and the sun visor had obscured his view even further.

However, witnesses told Lowestoft Magistrates' Court that the driver appeared to be travelling over the speed limit and that the injured patrol officer had been standing in the road for at least 20 seconds before he was struck by the car.

When giving evidence to the court, the victim of the car accident said: "I was wearing my yellow hat, long yellow coat and holding my lollipop stick. A young girl came along and I could see nothing coming for some distance, so I stepped out into the road with my lollipop and was hit in the back."

As a result of the road traffic accident and despite his plea, the driver was found guilty of driving without due care and attention and was fined £130 with court costs of £400.