Court prepares Fewston hearing
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by Ian Wylie • Calderdale magistrates will meet next Wednesday (30 April) to hear a pre-trial review of manslaughter charges brought against former Fewston Transport director Eric Preston in connection with the Sowerby Bridge disaster.
Six people died after a Fewston Transport truck crashed into a row of shops in the Yorkshire town four years ago. Pressure from victims' relatives prompted a judicial review after the Crown Prosecution Service decided last year not to prosecute Fewston's directors for manslaughter.
The divisional court judge upheld the decision of the CPS, hut in February West Yorkshire police issued summonses against Preston, Fewston's for
mer transport manager, after the CPS decided to review the case again.
Fewston was successfully prosecuted for failing to maintain a vehicle properly after investigators showed that every brake on the crashed lorry had failed. The company was fined £5,000 and had its 0-licence revoked, prompting Fewston's collapse just over a year ago.
When Preston was charged it was the first time a charge of manslaughter had been brought following a road accident, but two weeks ago a couple who run a Northamptonshire catering company were charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of a 11-year-old girl last August. Michelle Shields died when a truck overturned at the Dartford Tunnel,