THE driver of an articulated lorry loaded with potatoes which toppled over and crushed a car in Beeston has been fined £100 with three penalty points.

District Judge Nicholas Sanders told Chester Magistrates Court a mother and son had a “lucky” escape after their Volvo was crumpled by the lorry.

Peter Wellington Whalley, 66, of Armitt Street, Macclesfield had denied driving without due care and attention claiming he had been blinded by oncoming lights forcing him to break and the vehicle to fall.

Prosecuter Tom Bureau told the court that on September 12, 2007 at 9.30pm Whalley was driving his Volvo articulated goods vehicle along the A49 towards Whitchurch and went around the bend and under the railway bridge.

He said: “It was at that time a Volvo motor car driven by Dr Griffin, with her son Oliver as a passenger was travelling towards Tarporley, as they went past, the lorry tipped over, onto its side with the Volvo underneath”

Dr Jacqueline Griffin, of Peckforton Hall Lane, Peckforton told the court: “The lorry appeared to be going too fast and leaning at an angle, I thought I would get past.”

PC Michael Prime, of Cheshire Constabulary Investigation Unit told the court of a tyre pressure mark that was left on the road after the crash.

“The pressure mark is probably from when the vehicle started to lean over putting more pressure on that tyre.

“The line is consistent with someone turning into the corner, which could be due to him trying to stop the tipping.”

Whalley told the court that he often does driving jobs.

He said: “I slowed down into the bridge, as I always do when I go through the bridge.

“I was well out of the bridge, and I was blinded by bright light. I didn’t know what was in front of me. I couldn’t see anything.

“As I braked it rocked and the next thing I knew it was over.”

Whalley denied he was going too fast and told the court

“I have never been blinded like that before”.

Judge Sanders said: “It seems that Mr Whalley was driving at speed, not over the speed limit, but enough for the vehicle to topple over.”

Mr Whalley was fined £100, and issued three points on his driving licence and ordered to pay £600 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.