By Ezra Holt
A Perth rubbish truck driver who accidentally ran over a four-year-old who was riding a scooter down a suburban street has been fined $2500 after pleading guilty to driving carelessly.
The boy suffered a broken leg and ligament damage when he was struck by the rubbish truck on Deanmore Road in Scarborough on November 24.
The injured four-year-old in hospital after being hit by a rubbish truck driven by David Williams (right) in Scarborough last year.
CCTV of the incident showed the little boy scooting along a footpath just ahead of his mother on a Friday morning, before the truck appears out of a laneway and hits him.
During his sentencing in Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday, the court was told driver David Williams, 55, stopped when he heard the screams of the boy’s mother.
Willliams has been a truck driver his whole working life, and has no criminal record. His lawyer submitted five references for the father-of-three, who he said was “extremely remorseful” over the incident and concerned for the boy’s welfare.
He was fined $2500 and had his driver’s licence disqualified for three months, meaning he cannot work in his profession during that time.
The boy was on his scooter when the rubbish truck appeared out of a laneway and collided with him on the footpath.
Outside court, the boy’s father said the driver would have to “have to look at himself every day” and know what he has done.
“The result of the penalty isn’t going to reverse what’s happened … three months [disqualification] and my son’s been recovering for longer than that,” he said.
“We were very lucky that it wasn’t worse this time, and I’d hate for it to happen to any other family.”
The father said after the incident his son was in a wheelchair for part of his recovery.
“[He’s] doing his best, trying to go back to being a normal four-year-old boy,” he said.
Williams was granted a spent conviction.
City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin said the city had worked with the Department of Education, school and nearby residents to implement short-term safety measures in the wake of the incident.
These included signage in the laneway alerting motorists to watch for pedestrians, and signs on the footpath warning pedestrians to stop and look for vehicles before crossing.
“This laneway is one of more than 400 in the City of Stirling,” Irwin said.
“There is currently a petition before council to consider progressing acquisition of the laneway so the city can consider its use and maintenance in the future, which may include upgrades such as asphalt paving, kerbing, drainage and lighting.”
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