Not a good record for young driver involved in crash

Ryan James Blevins (18), Collingdale, Lurgan, admitted last Friday at Craigavon Magistrates Court driving without due care and attention on July 4 this year.

He was fined £250, ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy and banned from driving for one month.

The court heard that around 5.30pm a car stopped at the traffic lights at the junction of the Northway and the M12.

The vehicle was struck in the rear by a car driven by the defendant and it was forced out into the middle of the road. The driver feared that she was going to be hit by other traffic.

The injured party felt numbness to her back and had to be taken to hospital where she had to stay overnight. Her vehicle was written off.

A barrister representing the defendant said the lights were changing and the other driver was right at stopping on the amber light.

He added that Blevins misread the situation and there was a collision.

Deputy District Judge Peter Magill said the defendant had not a good record for someone who had just been driving.

The barrister explained that the last time Blevins had been in court he had received a short period of disqualification and his employer had ‘bent over backwards’ to keep him in employment.