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Safety checks missed
Page 9
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A haulier whose artic was involved in a pile-up in which a mother and daughter were killed has been found guilty of failing to ensure proper safety checks were carried out on the vehicle.
The 38-tonner was one of five vehicles involved in the crash on the northbound carriageway of M5 Avonmouth Bridge on 1 September, 2000.
Ann Hughes, 67, and her daughter Angela, 34, of Swansea, died when the truck ploughed into the back of their Rover Metro, wedging it underneath a van.
A jury at Bristol Crown Court found Newport, South Wales-based TG Howell and Sons guilty of two charges of breaching health and safety legislation in relation to the vehicle.
The jury also found the company's works manager, Martin Howell, guilty of two charges of breaching health and safety legislation.
However, Howell was cleared of a joint charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice with David Dugmore—the owner of the garage which carried out the maintenance on his company's vehicles (CM 23-29 May). Dugmore had pleaded guilty to the charge at an earlier hearing.
The truck involved in the crash was supposed to have had safety checks every six weeks but the agreed schedule was not being followed, the court heard. The brakes on the trailer were described as "inoperative", with the tractor's brakes just about bringing the artic up to the required level of braking efficiency, The driver of the artic, David Morris,of Chepstow Road, Newport, Gwent, had pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving in relation to the accident at an earlier hearing.
The case was adjourned to allow the judge, Mr Justice Kay, to sentence the company, Howell, Dugmore and Morris at the same hearing.