Tourist drove on wrong side of the road

AN American tourist, who ended up in a field to avoid a collision after driving on the wrong side of the road, was told by a Strabane Resident Magistrate, "You obviously thought you were back home in Texas."

The defendant, 42 year-old John Kirk Timke, from Schertz in Texas, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving without undue care and attention.

The court was told that on May 2, at around 2.30pm at what the prosecution described as "quite severe bends" on the Sligo road in Enniskillen, the defendant had been driving in the right hand lane of the carriageway, the wrong side for travel here.

When confronted by an oncoming vehicle, the defendant was forced to head the hired 4x4 vehicle for the ditch, going through the hedge and into a field. The vehicles did not collide, but there was extensive damage to the hire vehicle, and minor injuries were suffered by three passengers, namely the defendant's wife, mother-in-law and father-in-law.

RM Mr McNally quipped, "Mr Timka, you obviously thought you were back home in Texas."

Representing himself, the defendant said, "I would like to apologise to the police department, the hospital staff, all of the court staff and of course yourself your honour for taking up the time of all these people."

He was fined £150 and was informed that if he were to apply for a drivers licence for this jurisdiction, they would have three penalty points endorsed.