0-licence revoked over detached trailer death
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Alistair Clark has his licence revoked after a trailer he was towing detached and killed a motorist
roger.browniarbi.co.uk
SCOTTISH TRAFFIC Commissioner (TC) Joan Aitken (left) has revoked the 0-licence of Banffshire haulier Alistair Clark after a trailer he was towing detached and slid across a road, killing a motorist.
In a written decision following a public inquiry, the TC disqualified Clark, of Ballindalloch, from holding a licence indefinitely, after he was convicted of the death by dangerous driving of Stuart Reid from Grantown-on-Spey.
The accident occured in October 2008 on the A95 Aberlour to Grantovvn road, near Ballindalloch.
Clark, who traded as A Clark. was driving his tractor unit when the 9m semi-trailer behind it broke loose and crossed to the opposite side of the road, where it collided with a Mitsubishi pickup being driven by Reid.
The trailer smashed the windscreen and ripped off the roof and offside of Reid's vehicle, causing him to suffer fatal head and chest injuries.
It was discovered that Clark had failed to check that the converter dolly and semitrailer were properly coupled before he set out, and that the air brakes on the converter dolly and trailer were so defective they were incapable of operating.
Clark was convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh in June under the Road Traffic Act 1988, sentenced to two years in prison and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for three years.
The public inquiry was called to consider Clark's repute and professional competence.
Aitken said she had to revoke the licence as no other decision would be "proportionate or appropriate" in the circumstances.
She added: "The narratives available to me indicate a level of omissions in relation to the roadworthiness of the motor tractor and trailer combination and a recklessness as to their safe use which I would not expect in a goods vehicle operator.
"The conviction strikes at that repute and at his professional competence."