Haulier convicted for driver's crash
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• Noel Loukes, a partner in Sheffield-based eight-vehicle haulier Loukes Brothers Haulage, has been convicted of procuring a driver to cause death by dangerous driving because of the condition of the vehicle involved.
Sentence was adjourned pending reports.
Noel Loukes' brother Ian was cleared of a similar charge: driver Ronnie Kennedy. of Avenue. Dinnington was cleared of causing death by driving a vehicle in a dangerous state.
Prosecuting, Bernard Phillips said part of the prop shaft came off the truck and bounced across the ML killing the driver of an oncoming car.
An examination revealed that no split pin was fitted in the castellated nut holding the propshaft on to the flange. The nut came undone and the propshaft disintegrated.
Noel Loukes, who was responsible for the maintenance of the fleet, admitted that the regular driver had reported a noise at the back end on both the two days before the accident. He said the company was on a rush job and needed every vehicle.
L An examination of Loukes' eight vehicles following the fatal accident led to seven immediate prohibitions and five defect notices. It was said that all the vehicles examined were a potential danger to the public.
In September 1993 North Eastern Deputy LA Brian Horner revoked the company's 0-licence and disqualified both Loukes brothers from holding or obtaining a licence indefinitely.