Cambell Buckland Hill was driving a truck carrying 16 hay bales when he was busted for dangerous overtaking

Police followed the Central Queensland truck driver for some distance on a highway before charging him with two offences. Here’s the details about the charges and what happened in court.

Hay bales in a paddock. Generic image.

A Central Queensland truck driver has faced court after his wayward manner of driving concerned police on a rural highway.

Cambell Buckland Hill, 57, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on February 9 to one count of failing to keep left of double continuous dividing lines, and one count of failing to keep left of centre dividing lines.

The court heard that Hill came to the attention of police on the Dawson Highway, about 3pm on July 29 last year.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Kevin Ongheen said the Calliope Road Policing Unit was on that highway at Calliope when they saw a small truck, loaded with 16 round bales of hay, travelling east.

That truck was being driven by Hill and Sgt Ongheen said police saw him cross over the centre dividing line on three occasions.

Sgt Ongheen said one of those was on a left-hand “blind corner.”

“Police saw the driver (Hill) overtake a truck on double continuous dividing lines at Catfish Creek, on the bridge, in between the guard rails” he said.

“The (Hill’s) vehicle has then overtaken another vehicle towing a caravan when not safe, as another vehicle was approaching in the opposite direction.”

Sgt Ongheen said police subsequently intercepted Hill and he was spoken to in relation to exceeding the speed limit and his manner of driving.

“He (Hill) said he was running late and had to be at Agnes Water before 5pm to drop off the hay,” Sgt Ongheen said.

Police issued Hill with two infringement notices for the “failing to keep left” offences and also an infringement notice for speeding.

Hill elected to have these matters dealt with by a court and a brief of evidence was prepared.

Sgt Ongheen sought the original penalties of $248 (x2) for the “failing to keep left” offences.

Solicitor Richard Parks said a brief of evidence was sought as these offences took place over a distance of more than 20km.

Mr Parks said Hill was followed by police “for some 15 minutes or so.”

“Who themselves were a little bit lax in their, in the way they conducted this,” Mr Parks said.

“He should have been pulled up earlier on and... stopped, instead of being allowed to travel that far.”

Mr Parks handed up photos of sections of the road in question to Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale and explained that some of these sections were “in a state of disarray.”

“The road was in such a state of disarray there and disrepair, there was a need - but he went too far, he went too far over the centre of the road.

“And this comes from, Your Honour, the police brief has the same pictures.”

After looking at the photographs, including how far over the lines Hill’s truck had gone, Ms Beckinsale said: “This photo illustrates way worse than what I had pictured in my mind... I was picturing just the wheels going just over but that’s, that’s horrific.

“And I would imagine that the safer choice on going around a corner like that is to put up with the bumps and lumps in the road, rather than put yourself out in front of an oncoming car.

“The photos haven’t assisted him so far,” Ms Beckinsale added.

Mr Parks and Ms Beckinsale continued with some discussion before the magistrate told Hill: “The solution is not to put these time frames on your deliveries.”

And she added that you must always drive to conditions.

Ms Beckinsale fined Hill $496 which was what the prosecution had asked for.

 

Originally published as Cambell Buckland Hill was driving a truck carrying 16 hay bales when he was busted for dangerous overtaking