Chester car crash caused by HGV driver falling asleep at the wheel

Feb 27 2009 Chester Chronicle

A LORRY driver admitted falling asleep at the wheel after he caused a seven-vehicle smash near Chester.

Wouter Kirstein, 32, originally from South Africa but now living in County Tipperary, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

The smash, just after 5pm on the A543 Wrexham Road on Monday (February 23), resulted in six drivers being treated for minor injuries.

Four were taken to hospital but later released.

Those involved in the collision included a 37-year-old man from Rhyl driving a red Vauxhall Astra; a man from Prestatyn, driving a black Mercedes coupe; a man from Mold, driving a blue VW Golf; a woman from Mold, driving a red Peugeot 206; and a man from Mold, driving a black Ford Fiesta.

Fire crews from Chester had to free one of the men using hydraulic cutting equipment and two lanes had to be closed while police cleared the vehicles.

Leigh-Ann Wardman, prosecuting, said: “The vehicle was a fully-loaded refrigerated HGV lorry weighing 42 tonnes.

“The vehicle had turned onto the A483 and was travelling towards Chester in the nearside lane at approximately 45 miles per hour.

“The tachograph showed the vehicle was still travelling at this speed at the time of the collision.

“On his own admission he fell asleep at the wheel.”

Defending, Ceri Evans said: “Mr Kirstein is employed by a haulage company in Ireland.

“He had all the necessary licences and work permits to do the job, and had taken a required rest for 48 hours in Oswestry after collecting a load containing DHL packages and pharmaceuticals from Banbury to deliver via Holyhead.

“As he was accelerating to come off the Pulford roundabout, he fell asleep at the wheel. It was actually the collision that woke him.

“As a result, he failed to notice the slow-moving and stationary traffic ahead.

“This was a momentary lapse due to tiredness rather than a conscious decision to drive dangerously.

“This lapse resulted in traumatic and extensive consequences and thankfully no-one was more critically injured.”

No application for bail was made and Kirstein will remanded in custody until being sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Monday, March 23.