Pelting rocks at heavy haulage truck drivers in Geraldton pose a safety risk for all road users

A road train driver is shaken up after his vehicle was pelted with rocks on the weekend, with the projectiles only just missing his head. This close call now has him fearing he may not make it home to his family at the end of a working day. Jason Anderson, who is employed with Campbells Transport in Geraldton, said the incident occurred near the intersection of North West Coastal Highway and Geraldton-Mount Magnet Rd between 3.20pm and 3.30pm on Saturday, September 3. “If it had hit me in the head — which came within inches — it would have been a catastrophe, especially if there are cars at the lights, or another truck or a school bus,” he said. “That’s what scares me the most, I have a baby girl. We’re out there to do a job and we have families at home, too.” Mr Anderson said he was not the only road train driver to be targeted, and other companies had copped the frightening attacks. “What they don’t realise is it could be their family parked at the traffic lights when the truck takes out several cars at the intersection,” he said. “It could end in a big tragedy for everyone, it’s very serious.” Campbells Transport operations manager Jason Daly said the company took safety on the road seriously and that rock-throwing needed to be addressed. “We’re used to things happening with the general public whether it’s other vehicles swerving in front of us. The drivers pre-empt it, they know to look out for it,” he said. “But this sort of instance, you can’t predict it and there’s nothing you can do.” Geraldton police acting officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Stuart Gerreyn said reports of rock-throwing around the city were on the rise, and it was difficult for police to catch people in the act or at the location. “For whatever reason, we seem to be getting more reports of it happening and more damages,” he said. “We are doing what we can, we respond to incidents as reported. “Whoever is doing it is doing it from a location where it is hard to be seen and trying to find them during the offending is very difficult.” Sen. Sgt Gerreyn said he was confident the suspects were juveniles. “It’s a stupid thing to be doing just to get their kicks. I don’t know the age of some of these kids but they should know better,” he said. “If they think it’s funny I guarantee they won’t be laughing if they cause a serious accident.”