The truck driver who drove into the path of an oncoming train in May has claimed sun strike was the cause of the smash.
Keith Raymond Skinner pleaded guilty to careless driving, in the Ashburton District Court this morning in front of Justices' of the Peace Eric Weir and Steve Wise.
Skinner, driving an empty Verkerks truck and trailer unit, heading east crossed the uncontrolled Northpark Road railway crossing shortly after 9am on May 29 - unaware of the southbound train bearing down on him.
By the time he heard the train it was too late; it ploughed into the truck causing extensive damage to both the train engine and the semi-trailer unit. The force of the collision was so strong, it snapped the 12m trailer in two, leaving it buckled on the west side of the tracks while the truck sat on the east side, part of the trailer still attached. Neither driver was injured.
"I'm sorry,'' Skinner told the court.