Lm1,000 fine for reckless driving

A 37-year-old woman was yesterday fined Lm1,000 and had her licence suspended for a year for reckless driving.

In January 2003, Maria Bezzina, who was driving an Opel Corsa, crashed into a police officer on motorbike in Hamrun. As a result he sustained serious injuries, including multiple fractures to his cheekbone.

The officer, Richard Ciappara, had testified that he was driving down Parish Priest Road when he felt a jolt to the rear of his motorbike. He lost control of the vehicle and crashed against a parked truck smashing his face against its running board.

The woman had said she hit the motorbike when she was exiting from a side street onto the main road after, according to her, a car on the other side of the road gave her the go-ahead by flashing its lights.

In handing down judgment, Magistrate Saviour Demicoli considered the clean record of the accused.

Police Inspector Mario Bonello prosecuted.