Bad brakes cause death
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• A Gwent haulier who failed to properly maintain a vehicle involved in a fatal accident, has been fined 24,000 at Cardiff Crown Court and disqualified from driving for a year.
Harold Williams, of Ashley Grove, Caerwent, Caldicot., was also ordered to pay 2750 prosecution costs after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting his SOD Dan-en Williams to cause the death of 17-year-old Kelly Huntley by reckless driving.
Darren Williams, who admitted causing Huntley's death by reckless driving, was fined 21,000 and disqualified from driving for a year.
For the prosecution. John Aubrey said Williams failed to comply with the Department of Transport's maintenance requirements. The nearside front brake was found to be incapable of operation, being seized solid with rust. Instead of using a bar to examine the braking system, Williams had been in the habit of jacking the vehicle
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up and carrying out a visual inspection via a keyhole drilled in the bodywork.
Witnesses gave evidence that they had seen the vehicle start to judder some 50 metres or so from where the accident occurred. The vehicle then struck Huntley, who was riding his motorcycle from the opposite direction, Aubrey said that when interviewed, Darren Williams denied he had been aware of any problems with the braking system, maintaining that the wet conditions had caused the vehicle to aquaplane.
Sentencing the two men, Judge John Rutter said it was a tragic illustration of the importance of vehicles being maintained in a roadworthy condition and of the terrible consequences if they were not so maintained. A young life had been needlessly lost because of the actions of the defendants.
Harold Williams was the most culpable because he had failed to carry out proper inspections on the vehicles, said Rutter.