Fine suspended for Geraldton driver Johnny Gojko Aladin after Wicherina truck rollover

A Geraldton truck driver who claimed he was not at fault for his road train rolling over and stopping traffic last year has been handed a suspended fine. Johnny Gojko Aladin, 56, was charged with dangerous driving after police attended the scene of his truck rollover on November 9, 2020. Prosecutor Sgt Troy Gildersleeve told Geraldton Magistrates Court Aladin was last year working as a driver for Midwest Sand Supplies and had at the time of the accident been carrying about 85 tonnes of grain across two trailers along Valentine Road in Wicherina. Aladin approached the Geraldton-Mount-Magnet Road intersection — which is at the base of a steep incline — and attempted to use the brakes to slow down. Sgt Gildersleeve said Aladin “lost control” of the vehicle and truck and both trailers rolled upside down. He said no one was hurt in the incident but other motorists had to slow to avoid a collision with the road train. Aladin, who was not represented by a lawyer, said he could not be held responsible for the incident because his “brakes failed” on the day. But Magistrate Angus Hockton found Aladin guilty of the dangerous driving charge and gave him a suspended $800 fine. Aladin was also ordered to pay $251.50 in court costs.