FEWSTON CONSIDERS REVIEW
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• The haulier at the centre of the fatal Sowerby Bridge crash is understood to be considering applying for a judicial review into the inquest which found it "grossly negligent".
A judicial review is a High Court challenge against a verdict—in this case involuntary and unlawful killing—which can be made if the coroner is thought to be incorrect, unreasonable or misdirected in law.
The move comes as a police prosecution of Skipton, North Yorks-based Fewston Transport is being prepared; road traffic charges are being pressed relating to the Foden tipper involved in last September's crash. It is understood that Road Traffic Act offence summonses were served on the company last week: charges thought to be likely to be brought under Construction & Use Regulations include failure to maintain brakes. But a police spokesman says that further charges relating to the accident, which killed six people, could be brought before Fewston Transport appears in court. A likely date for its first appearance at Calderclale Division Magistrates Court, West Yorks, has been given as 24 May.
In a separate move, North Eastern Licensing Authority Keith Waterworth has called 35 of the company's drivers to a public inquiry on 22 March to look at speeding offences allegedly committed between July and August last year. The LA will also look at maintenance at the company, and is now understood to have received a VI report prepared at the company's premises in Skipton two days after the crash.
A VI source says that none of the trucks was issued with immediate prohibitions following this visit. Two trucks received delayed orders as the result of minor defects but not all vehicles were checked.