A DISTRACTED truck driver has been sentenced to two years in jail for a fatal crash near Geraldton that killed a young mother.
While 23-year-old Chloe Rumble died instantly from horrific head trauma, miraculously her infant son Kobi, then 11-months-old, who was in a baby capsule in the back seat, survived with only minor injuries.
Vehicle Impounded For The Sixth Time In Seven Months
A 46 year old male from Geraldton has had his vehicle seized for the sixth time this year.
In the early hours of Monday morning, 4 July 2016 the male was driving his vehicle in Wonthella when he was stopped by police. Police allege the male driver was attempting to evade police moments before he was spoken to.
His vehicle was seized and impounded as the driver did not hold a current motor drivers licence. Previously, he has been charged for Reckless Driving (Hooning), and numerous charges for driving without a licence.
He will appear in the Geraldton Magistrates Court at a later date.
Pavement works on North West Coastal Highway may impact your journey from 7 to 12 June. Plan ahead to avoid delays. For a full list of roadworks happening across the region visit: http://ow.ly/3Gcj300PkGR
I have an issue with Geraldton drivers, an issue that is probably shared by a large proportion of the people who live here. You see, on a regular basis I encounter the small minority of drivers that cannot seem to park their cars.
I don't know what it is that makes it so hard for some drivers to successfully place their vehicle inside two white lines. Or why some drivers are in such a rush to get wherever they are going that they cannot take the extra 60 seconds to reverse their car, straighten up and park in the centre of those two white lines.
I know this problem might seem insignificant, petty even but when I regularly have to climb over the back seat of my car to place my children in their child restraints because I cannot open the passenger door far enough to squeeze them in, the problem starts to wear on me.
Case in point (there was no way I could open my door wide enough to get my kids in the car without hitting the side of their car, I tried):
The issue is compounded by the fact that our carparks are on the small side and only one way. Sometimes you have no choice but to play the "reversing game" (where you go in and out and in and out and in and out...) in an attempt to get out of your own park without hitting anyone else's car. Sometimes you get lucky and can drive out through the empty park in front of you.
Unfortunately the law is somewhat ambiguous on the whole "parking correctly" thing but this excerpt from the Drive Safe Handbook stands out to me: 3.18 Parking To ‘park’ means to permit the vehicle to remain stationary whether the vehicle is attended or not - except for the purpose of avoiding conflict with other traffic, complying with another law, or picking up or setting down passengers or goods (for a maximum of 2 minutes). Before you park your vehicle, ask yourself: * is it safe to park here; * is it legal; and * will it cause trouble to other road users.
Though I did find this information in the Road Traffic Code 2000 Reg 179 interesting as well:
Subject to sub regulation (2), a driver parking a vehicle on a length of carriageway, or in an area, on which parking bays are marked (whether or not a “park in bays only” sign applies) shall position the vehicle completely within a single bay. If a vehicle is too wide or long to fit completely within a single parking bay, the person stopping the vehicle shall park the vehicle within the minimum number of parking bays needed to park that vehicle.
Though I doubt they meant this when writing that regulation…
It would be muchly appreciated if people could take that extra 60 seconds, think about the people around them and park properly.
From your local Annoyed Driver
- N. Thompson
Footage sent in to Everything Geraldton of a road collapsing in Drummond Cove today.
The driver of this Toyota Landcruiser is lucky to be alive, after falling asleep at the wheel today on Brand Highway, according to Dongara Police.
Police say the driver was a male.
A recent study found 11.8% of casualty crashes were the result of a driver falling asleep.
Drowsy driving puts your own life and the lives of others at risk.
Police have not yet said whether the driver will be charged.
"A beautiful tan dog that looked like it might have been a Shar Pei ran out in front of me this morning at 8.30am on Brand Hwy near Ackland Street. Despite braking I hit him, as did the car next to me.
We tried to find him to take him to the vet but he ran off up the hill- which hopefully means he isn't too injured. The wonderful woman in the red car behind me drove up the hill to try and find him to take him to the vet.
If you are missing a dog fitting this description please contact local vets.
Please people, keep your dogs locked up. This was so distressing for me and the other driver and was completely preventable.
Hopefully this beautiful dog is going to be ok and back with his family soon."
Anon
"Bad cash on Brand highway just out of Geraldton. On S bend straight. All people heading south from One Night Stand, please take care!"
Main Roads: "MID-WEST - GASCOYNE - Brand Hwy northbound at Henry Rd, South Greenough - LANES BLOCKED - crash"
Update from Police 1:30pm: Hwy now open.
As if we all needed more reminders to pay attention on the roads...
Phil Condor shared this dash cam video to YouTube recently. In it you see the vehicle, driven by Aidin Vinci, turn from the highway down Webberton Road, and a 4x4 pulls out right in front of the truck.
Fortunately this time it didn't end in disaster, but it's worth sharing as a reminder that we all need to be vigilant and pay attention on our roads.
Breaking:
Everything Geraldton just received this info.
"5 km south of Dongara"
Take care if passing through the area.
I remember the first SS V8 Ute I brought home. Selling cars in Perth had very few perks, but thrashing new cars was one benefit.
I was in my early 20's, and my esteem among my peers always went up a notch when I had a new vehicle to show off.
I recall clearly blowing up an engine in a turbo charged Lancer on the Kwinana Fwy, teaching (showing off to) my friends how to do a proper hand brake turn, and destroying tyres on cheap trade ins.
Many of my friends also had high powered cars, and we egged each other on.
I lost my licence for a few months at one point due to an accumulation of demerit points. I deserved it.
But I would still speed when I could get away with it.
In 2006 I moved to Geraldton. I got married. I stopped seeing my Perth friends.
One day I realised I wasn't speeding any more. I couldn't remember the last time I had done a handbrake turn or a burn out.
I wondered what had changed. I wondered who that idiot was who used to show off behind the wheel. He felt like a stranger.
But nothing sudden had changed, I just was no longer around people who thought hooning was cool, and I had grown to realise how dumb it truly was.
The need to belong, be approved of, and get attention, are real human needs. Many people will do whatever it takes to get those needs met.
If the only people willing to offer young men acceptance are other young men with undeveloped prefrontal cortexes who lack sound reasoning skills, it's easy to see how the "hoon" culture perpetuates.
As I grow older I realise how important who I surround myself with is. It's not a "holier than thou" thing. It's just a recognition of my own frailty and need for positive influences in my life.
If I could do it over, I'm sad to say that one change I would make would be to hang around with a different set of friends.
If you're a young person reading this, I'd advise that you choose your friends carefully.
Everything Geraldton has been informed that about 4km of traffic is banked back heading northbound on Indian Ocean drive
If you're heading to or from Perth, use Brand Hwy.
Sent in earlier: "Major crash 60 kms out off wanneroo road, closed both directions. Truck and 4x4"
Several community members have contacted us regarding a fire that is approaching the Brand Hwy south of Eneabba.
The highway has been closed. Take the coast road or the Midlands rd.
DFES are reporting that the cause of the fire is lightning. This photo was sent in earlier today by Becky.
Becky just shared this brilliant lightning shot:
"On the way to Perth right now , 40k out of Badgingarra"
Double Demerits this long weekend, starting today until midnight Monday evening. Stay safe if you're travelling. We want you back in one piece.
11:50am Indian Ocean Drive is reopened. Bushfire has been extinguished.
Continue to exercise caution of travelling through area.
8:40am
Indian Ocean Dr both directions from Ocean Farms Rd to Meadows Rd - CLOSED - bushfire
This is on Indian Ocean Drive. They're turning traffic around, so take Brand if you're heading to or from Perth. 4:23pm
Thanks Taryn for the heads up.
- Update
Indian Ocean Dr both directions from Lancelin Rd to Meadows Rd - CLOSED - bushfire.
- Main Roads
Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney has written to Transport Minister Hon Dean Nalder regarding the issue of localised car number plates.
“I’ve been approached by a number of constituents who have concerns about their ability to access local plates for their cars in future.
“The issues are to do with number plates issued by the Shire of Greenough since its amalgamation with the City of Greater Geraldton.
“I’ve asked the Minister to advise whether a person with an existing G plate can obtain new ones?
“Also, whether it’s possible to buy a set of G plates from someone who already has a set and wishes to sell them?
“Another issue raised with me is – if a plate has been handed back and is no longer used, is it possible to gain a list of those plates and get them reissued?
“And lastly, like all Shires in the region, Greenough issued a series of special plates in reverse order. Is it still possible to obtain these plates?
“While the Shire no longer exists and the new local authority no longer carries the name Greenough, locals have a strong attachment to their area and genuinely would like to keep, or obtain their number plates,” said Mr Blayney.
Multiple Geraldton residents have reached out to EG asking for the public to slow down in school zones.
We thought we'd just post this short reminder to be extra careful of your speed between 7:30 and 9:00am each morning, and 2:30 and 4pm each afternoon.
Several spots in Geraldton get extremely congested during these times, and patience is needed.
Also a reminder not to overtake on unbroken white lines. We've had reports of impatient drivers putting others at risk by overtaking in school zones when unsafe to do so.
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