Latest news with #drivinginstructor
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Families living in hotels after Clacton-on-Sea arson attack
A driving instructor whose home and cars were damaged in a fire that tore through three businesses said he had lost his shops and several homes were affected by the blaze in West Avenue, Clacton-on-Sea, in the early hours of Monday Zapanta, who is one of 13 people still unable to return to their homes, said the scenes were "very scary".Essex Police said a 42-year-old man from the town had been arrested on suspicion of arson and was in custody. Mr Zapanta, who was at home with his wife, mum and two brothers, said he only became aware of the fire when he woke up to go to the toilet and noticed a red glow through a window, which had cracked because of the heat."The scary part was not knowing if the fire was at the front door. Luckily it wasn't, so we were able to get out," said the 54-year-old."There was a guy outside our front door when we came out telling us 'Come on, let's get out' and I think he did the same for our neighbour."He was able to book two hotel rooms for his family for two nights but, because most hotels in the town are fully booked for the Clacton Airshow on Thursday and Friday, he will have to stay with friends and family until his home is declared said he was dealing with his insurer and hoped to replace three cars that were damaged by the fire, but he cannot work in the meantime."I'm glad I'm alive but I'm really sad for certain pupils who are going to be taking their tests and I can't do anything about it." About 40 firefighters attended the blaze at 00:35 of Clacton - a furniture shop - was completely alight. Two other businesses in the same building - Mattress Man of Essex and Easy Mobility Services - were also to 70 residents were evacuated from their homes and taken to a refuge centre set up in a nearby hotel, before later moving to a leisure District Council said most of them had returned home by Monday afternoon, but 13 remained in temporary accommodation while structural engineers completed investigations. Paul Vickery, managing director of Easy Mobility Services, said he had been "quite overwhelmed by the support from our clients"."The fact there hasn't been more damage is utterly incredible," he said."[The fire service] has done a phenomenal job to save people's houses and other livelihoods, so let's be thankful nobody was hurt."He said he was looking for alternative premises so the business could continue trading in the north Essex town."We will come back stronger and better," he added. Damian Williams, a corporate director at the district council, said: "Scaffolding has now been put up at the site and structural engineers have advised that part of a wall will need to be carefully demolished to make the area secure."Protective fencing has been installed up to the edge of the road, and West Avenue has now reopened to traffic." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Free Malaysia Today
13-08-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Man arrested over road rage assault on driving instructor in Batu Pahat
Screenshots from a viral video of a motorcyclist tailing the victim's car while shouting. PETALING JAYA : Police have arrested a man for allegedly assaulting a driving instructor in a road rage incident along Jalan Muar-Batu Pahat, Johor, yesterday. Batu Pahat police chief Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani said the 33-year-old suspect was picked up in Parit Raja after a police report was lodged by the 56-year-old victim. He said the incident occurred at about 1.20pm near Taman Mutiara, Parit Sulong, when a motorcyclist stopped the victim's car, apparently over dissatisfaction with each other's driving. 'The suspect then punched the car's front windscreen, causing it to crack,' Shahrulanuar said in a statement today. He said the victim continued driving until the Parit Sulong police station, still followed by the suspect. 'Both parties got out of their vehicles and the suspect punched the victim, causing injury to the forehead, before fleeing the scene,' he said. The case is being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code for committing mischief and Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt. A one-minute 48-second video went viral on social media yesterday showing a motorcyclist tailing the victim's car while shouting.
CTV News
17-07-2025
- CTV News
Northern Ont. driving instructor's licence suspended after traffic stop
A patrol officer with the Thunder Bay Police Service holds up a roadside breathalyzer inside their cruiser indicating an alert following at traffic stop on July 16, 2025. (Thunder Bay Police Service/Facebook) A Thunder Bay driving instructor faces a licence suspension and fines after police say a traffic stop revealed multiple infractions, including alcohol consumption, cellphone use and failure to wear a seatbelt. The Thunder Bay Police Service stated in a social media post on July 16 that an officer pulled over the instructor at 9:40 a.m. while he was driving a marked driving school vehicle on his way to work. A 'troubling' stop 'A very troubling stop on many fronts,' police said. The officer initially stopped the driver for using a cellphone while operating the vehicle and not wearing a seatbelt. From bad to worse 'Bad yes, but things get worse,' the post continued. Authorities said the officer detected alcohol on the driver's breath and administered a roadside breathalyzer test, which registered in the 'warn range' of 50 to 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. As a result of the incident, the driving instructor received a three-day licence suspension under Ontario's warn-range suspension rules, along with two tickets – one for distracted driving for the cellphone use and another for not wearing a seatbelt. No lessons that day 'He will not be conducting any driving lessons today,' police confirmed in their post on Wednesday. The incident has raised concerns about road safety, particularly given the instructor's role in training new motorists in the region. Police have not released any information about the instructor's identity or employer.
