Qld: Truckie claims fell asleep before hitting UK tourists

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2001
Qld: Truckie claims fell asleep before hitting UK tourists

A 34-year-old long-haul truck driver who killed two doctors in an accident will be
sentenced in Brisbane's District Court today.

The two doctors were on a working holiday in Australia and travelling in a car when
driver DAVID RONALD FLIEDNER's truck ploughed into their stopped car.

FLIEDNER has told court he fell asleep at the wheel before the accident.

He has pleaded guilty to killing 24-year-old Irish radiographer CATRIONA JOSEPHINE
MAHER and 28-year-old English emergency doctor SCOTT NIGEL WILSON.

FLIEDNER drove his semi-trailer into the back of the couple's sedan which was stopped
at a red light at roadworks on the Bruce Highway at Yalboroo, north of Mackay, in December
last year.

The court has heard FLIEDNER was 19.5 hours into a trip from Brisbane to Townsville
when he rammed the car, which burst into a fireball and was pushed off the highway.

Defence barrister SIMON LEWIS told the court FLIEDNER had only returned from a trip
from Brisbane to Darwin to Melbourne the night before embarking.

However, Judge BRIAN HOATH has said FLIEDNER is a real threat.

He will hand down the sentence at 9am today.

AAP RTV ap/sc/wz/jh/psm/

KEYWORD: FLIEDNER (BRISBANE)

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