"Years of neglect" led to van crash

Thursday 31 January 2019

A hefty fine has been handed down by Guernsey's Magistrate's Court after a man crashed into the side of a van when his brakes failed at a red light.

Halil Gorcan, 38, was charged with, and pleaded guilty to, driving a vehicle that was 'in a condition bad enough that it caused damage by being on the roads'.

He was criticised for neglecting his vehicle and driving it even when it was visibly in poor condition. For that he was fined £1,000 and given a driving ban. 

Pictured: Gorcan was fined by Guernsey's Magistrate's Court. 

On the 21 July 2018, Gorcan hit the side of a van going through the junction at the bottom of Rectory Hill. The Magistrate heard that a witness had seen the defendant run the red light and hit the side of the van, but when Guernsey Police arrived on the scene Gorcan blamed his brakes. 

His vehicle was seized and tested extensively, and it was found to be in a very poor state of repair. Judge Graeme McKerrell saw pictures which showed visible deterioration on the vehicle, including a hole in one of the tyres right through to the tubing, and "shocking" corrosion on the underside. 

It was said that Gorcan had been given a warning about the poor condition of his vehicle the day before the accident, and it was also pointed out that some of the damage was clearly visible and would not have required a thorough inspection.

Gorcan was not represented by a lawyer in court, but told the Court he was sorry for what had happened, and that he was the sole breadwinner for his family of four.

In sentencing, Judge McKerrell gave him credit for his guilty plea, but also said he was lucky the accident had not resulted in any injuries. If there was a pedestrian involved, he said, someone could have been killed.

Gorcan was also taken off the roads for  month as part of his sentence. 

Pictured top: The Junction at the bottom of Rectory Hill. Gorcan was driving along the Rue des Varendes.