Driver averts 1161 crash after suicide hits truck
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• by Dominic Perry
A truc driver has been praised for averting a potentially horrific motorway crash after a man jumped through the windscreen of his chemical tanker.
An inquest heard how John Maguire of Runcorn, Cheshire was carrying a load of liquid chlorine eastbound along the M62 near Brighouse, West Yorks, last September when
James Goff leapt from a bridge above him.
Goff smashed straight through the windscreen, ending up on top of the helpless Maguire who managed to wrestle his Mercedes Actros tanker onto the hard shoulder.
West Yorkshire coroner Roger Whittaker, who recorded a verdict that Goff took his own life, praised Maguire. 'I can only begin to imagine what he must have felt in the split-seconds in which he observed the tragedy unfolding before him about which he could do nothing, he says. 'its a miracle that Mr Maguire wasn't also killed.'
Maguire, who drives for Widnes-based Haichem specialists Suttons Transport, was also praised by his bosses: "John Maguire showed tremendous presence of mind and driving skills of the highest order in managing to control his vehicle and avert an evermore serious incident,' says chief executive Andrew Callaghan.
A spokesman for Suttons adds that Maguire had eight weeks off work and received counselling before returning to driving.