Churchill Freight Lines boss fears for staff after concrete is hurled through windscreen from bridge
By Ruza Zivkusic-Aftasi | May 31, 2013
A trucking company owner is calling for action against potentially lethal behavour on bridges and overpasses.
The stance by Churchill Freight Lines owner Jason Churchill comes after one of his drivers dodged death when a lump of concrete hit his windscreen this week.
Churchill says he is becoming increasingly concerned for his five drivers.
“A public campaign is needed where the general public could keep an eye on these sorts of things,” Churchill says.
“I think it’s something the drivers are often aware of but I’m sure you can’t be concentrating every bridge you come up to.
“Being a truckie is becoming harder and harder all the time.”
Port Kembla driver Clinton McGarry was carrying furniture from Sydney to Ballarat on the Hume Highway on Tuesday when a 10 kg piece of concrete smashed into his cab at Coolac, near Gundagai.
A still shaken McGarry says he has never had such a close call during his 18-year career.
“I saw somebody up on the bridge [Muttama Road overpass] – I saw a shadow up in the dark and then I realised there was somebody hanging off the bridge,”
he says.
“Before I knew it, the concrete came down on me.”
He swerved the truck to the right but the concrete hit the windscreen, landing on the passenger seat.
“It was very scary,” McGarry says.
“I have considered giving driving away but it’s my life and I don’t know what to do.”
The father of three was driving for refrigerated and general transport firm Churchill Freight Lines after joining it seven months ago.
