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Firm's collapse stops prosecution
Page 13
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• The Crown Prosecution Service has decided it can no longer prosecute anyone connected with J Wright Heavy Haulage, even though a coroner decided one of its drivers who died in an accident was unlawfully killed. Driver Robert Atkinson drowned in 1994 when his truck's brakes failed and it plunged down an embankment on the Al into the River Aire near Pontefract.
But just as the company for which Atkinson worked was due to face charges relating to his death, its owner John Wright put it into voluntary liquidation and the case against the firm collapsed.
Margaret Taylor, for the CPS, told Pontefract Magistrates Court: "This is the same as an individual dying and it leaves us with no one to prosecute. We have taken advice as to whether any further action against an individual can be taken and it apparent that none can." The case has now been withdrawn.
Atkinson has been described a hero—he sacrificed his life to save his young son who was in the cab with him at the time of the accident.
Both his wife Susan and road haulage safety group Brake have condemned the CPS decision.
Wright is now working as a transport manager for a new firm called Liftwright which operates from the same premises as J Wright Heavy Haulage (CM 31 October-6 November).