Enniskillen Magistrates Court
A TEENAGER who feel asleep after working a 12 hour shift, drifting to the other side of a road and colliding with an oncoming car, has been fined for careless driving.
Lukas Stakutis (19) of Aghalun Park, Brookeborough appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, and driving without insurance.
On Monday, June 12 police were called to the scene of a minor road traffic accident on the Nutfield Road in Lisnaskea. Stakutis had been driving home towards Brookeborough when he fell asleep, drifting over the central line and colliding head on with an oncomiing car. The driver of the other car received minor injuries.
During his police interview Stakutis told police he couldn’t remember how the collision had happened, but admitted to falling asleep, and to driving without insurance.
He said that he’d just completed a 12 hour shift.
Defence solicitor Niall Bogue said Stakutis, who had no previous convictions, had been frank with police.
When asked by Deputy District Judge Sean O’Hare why he had been driving in such a tired condition, Mr Bogue said the defendant “miscalculated” the situation as he didn’t think he’d fall asleep.
With regard having no insurance, the solicitor explained that Stakutis had been given insurance quotes in the region of £2,500-£3,000, which he couldn’t afford.
Mr Bogue said he’d now learned a harsh lesson.
He said the defendant had since bought another car, taken out short-term insurance, and “will never take that risk again.”
Judge O’Hare said Stakutis had admitted the offences to police at the time and had faced up to his responsibilities, but added he had deliberately driven without insurance and when he was “not in a fit state.”
Stating he “shouldn’t have been on the road that day, in any condition”, Judge O’Hare disqualified Stakutis from driving for a total of nine months and fined him a total of £500.
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