Texaco tankers dangerous
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SOME of the tanks fitted to Texaco oil tanker lorries were defective and could seriously injure or kill a driver in a "roll-over" accident a High Court judge ruled last week.
One of Texaco's former hgv drivers, Alexander Kay, of Reeds Lane, Moreton, Merseyside, was confined to a wheelchair when the oil tanker he was driving rolled over, and the tank burst and collapsed, flattening his cab and crushing him against the steering wheel.
Mr Kay sued Texaco for damages for his injuries in the accident, and Mr Justice MarsJones said Texaco was liable as his employers for providing defective equipment and ruled that the glass-reinforced plastic tank, made by Gloster Saro Ltd, of Hucclecote, Gloucester, was defectively designed.
Texaco, who denied liability, will now bring an action against Gloster Sara for supplying faulty tanks, but Gloster also denies liability.
Mr Kay was "lucky to escape with his life," said the judge. "It was the collapse of the tank which caused the roof of the cab to be flattened. If the tank had been steel or aluminium, it would not have been squashed. Inadequate research had been carried out as to the consequences of roll-over accidents."
Mr Justice Mars-Jones went on to say that a previous accident at Ellesmere Port exactly a year before was clear evidence that "the design of the tank was faulty."
He said that Gloster Saro did nothing to warn Texaco of known defects and increased the risks to drivers by advising Texaco to weld the connection between the tractive unit and trailer more securely — making a roll-over accident more likely.
The amount of compensation Mr Kay will receive will be decided at a later date.