Fatigued taxi driver fined
A WHITSUNDAY taxi driver who ran off the road while carrying six passengers appeared in the Proserpine Magistrate's Court on Monday.
Wayne Alan Peadon pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention.
Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Matt Saunders said police attended the scene of a single-vehicle traffic accident on Shute Harbour Road at Mt Julian at 5.10am on August 28.
They found a maxi-taxi had run off the road with two of the six passengers sustaining injuries.
Snr Sgt Saunders said Peadon described himself as "a bit fatigued" and admitted he was at fault.
He said two of the passengers also recalled hearing Peadon say he was fatigued and had fallen asleep at the wheel.
In court on Monday, Peadon was given an opportunity to speak out in his defence.
He declined to comment, other than to say that "on the Tuesday afternoon, when I'd normally be having a rest... I had personal commitments to attend to".
Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist said Peadon's traffic history was "unremarkable" and there was certainly nothing of a like nature.
He put the incident down to "some inattention" and imposed a $440 fine. A conviction was recorded but no action was taken with respect to Peadon's driver's licence.
