‘Thug’ behind Larne A8 driver rock injury must be caught, says Deputy Mayor

Ulster Unionist Councillor Andrew Wilson condemned the incident in which a lorry driver suffered serious facial injuries.

Cllr Wilson said: “Firstly, my thoughts are with the driver of the lorry and I hope he can make a full recovery. This is a terrible ordeal which he has had to deal with.

“I am disgusted at the mentality of the criminal responsible for dumping a bin full of rocks on to a busy dual carriageway. It’s disgraceful. Who in their right mind would do something like this? Somebody in our community knows who did it and they need to give the information to the police.”

The Deputy Mayor added “the thug responsible needs caught and put behind bars before they do something like this again”.

Police were informed around 10.40pm on Friday that a lorry driver had been struck in the face by a rock, which had broken through his windscreen, as he drove under the Ballyboley overpass towards Larne.

In a statement, the PSNI added: “At this time it is believed that a wheelie bin containing rocks was thrown from the overpass as the lorry passed under it. Fortunately the driver, although badly injured, was able to bring the lorry safely to a stop at the side of the road following the incident.

“The driver, aged in his 50s, is currently in hospital receiving treatment.

“An investigation is underway and officers would ask anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the area of the overpass or who captured dash-cam footage of the incident to contact them in Larne on 101 quoting reference number 1944 08/01/21.”

Details can also be reported online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/

Voicing his condemnation, East Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA John Stewart said: “An Absolutely shocking incident carried out by mindless thugs that have clearly no respect for human life.

“The lorry driver, like hundreds of others is an essential worker and was working around the clock to keep our stores and shelves stocked. It is only chance that he wasn’t killed.

“If these idiots can do this once then they will do it again and next time it could hit a car with a young family inside. It doesn’t bear thinking about. If anyone has any information at all please contact the PSNI right away.”

Click here to read: PSNI say lives are at risk after stones thrown at cars on M2

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