AN INCIDENT that left sheep falling out of a moving vehicle has resulted in a swag of charges for the truckie behind the wheel.
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Police stopped a stock truck east of Dubbo on June 4 after observing an issue with the rear doors.
"They observed a rear door on the trailer open, exposing the stock to a risk of falling from the vehicle," NSW Police State Rural Crime Co-ordinator Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside said.
"We were working on a report that one [sheep] fell out and died and one was injured."
Det Insp Whiteside said the open doors had "exposed both decks of sheep from falling out of the truck".
Officers will allege that the 57-year-old female driver from Tooraweenah did not hold a driver's licence for this type of vehicle and did not hold the correct permits for stock transport.
MAP: The location where truck was pulled over
Det Insp Whiteside said it was a very challenging incident for officers to attempt to pull over the truck without using lights and sirens for fear it would spook the sheep and cause more to fall out of the moving vehicle.
The merino sheep were being transported from Elong Elong to the Dunedoo sale yards.
The female truck driver was issued with infringements for: Being in charge of an animal fail to exercise control to prevent act of cruelty - individual; stock owner not complete transported stock statement/make copy if required; and unlicensed for class - class C/R/LR/MR - prior offence.
Det Insp Whiteside the safe transport of stock is vital for all carriers.
"The rural crime prevention team remind carriers and farmers that while there's fit to load and fit to sale requirements, that also includes the safe transport of stock form point A to point B," he said.
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