Fine, licence suspension for driver over negligent U-turn that injured biker

A 55-year-old man has been fined €3,000 after he was found guilty of causing a road accident which left a motorcyclist with a permanent disability.

Inspector Roderick Spiteri charged Alfred Zammit with negligently causing the accident in Triq Pantar in Lija, on the morning of 19 November 2014. Motorcyclist Lee Farrugia was grievously injured and suffered a permanent disability, quantified at 8%, in the collision with Zammit's BMW.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit had been shown footage of the incident, showing that Zammit had caused the accident by performing a U-turn without ensuring that no traffic was coming in the opposite direction.

“It is clear that when the accused came to perform the maneuver, he was not looking where he should have been, as he was obliged to. Otherwise he would have noticed the motorcycle,” the magistrate remarked.

Finding Zammit guilty, the court imposed a fine of €3,000 and suspended his driving licence for eight days.