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Jack-knife verdict of unlawful killing
Page 7
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A CORONER has recorded a verdict of unlawful killing after hearing how a truck with defective brakes jack-knifed across a dual carriageway and killed a motorist.
North Derbyshire coroner Tom Kelly said the operators of the truck. A&J Transport, of Burntwood, Staffordshire. had neglected its duty of care to the public and this had contributed to the death of a motorist who was "unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time".
Kelly blasted the company for its "hit and miss" vehicle maintenance methods and its lack of servicing records, which came to light after police visited its premises and seized documents. Police described its offices as being "in total disarray". Roller brake tests after the crash revealed that the brakes on one side of the tractor showed defects on all three axles. And he was"horrified" to hear that a spot-check found defects on 13 of the company's 16 artics.
"The fact that A&J Transport is no longer in existence is a great relief to me. This company had numerous warnings from the Vehicle Inspectorate in the past?" said the coroner.
Stephen Blanchard, a 42-yearold engineer from Doncaster, died at the scene from blood loss and multiple injuries following the collision on the A38 at South Normanton, near Alfreton, De byshire, on 6 September,2002.
The truck, which was carrying a 21-tonne load of bricks and roof tiles,jack-knifed and crashed through a central reservation into the path of Blanchard's Ford Focus on the opposite carriageway.
A&J Transport has handed in its operator's licence and court proceedings are pending say police.