The family of an HGV driver killed while cleaning his vehicle say he was working in a “death trap” and hit out at his employers.
They described the death of John Wallace as “senseless” after he was crushed when the upper deck of a 14-tonne car carrier fell while he cleaned its lower deck in Hayes in 2013.
The firm he was working for faces a huge fine after it was convicted of breaching general duties to employees at Southwark Crown Court on August 8.
The 49-year-old , who lived in Hayes, was working as a vehicle recovery driver for Ontime Automotive Limited when the incident occurred on May 31, 2013, at Pasadena Close, in Pump Lane Industrial Estate.
The Slough-based business was charged with failing in its duty to Mr Wallace and all other employees coming into contact with the vehicle.
The court heard a the upper deck had already fallen without warning once, before a further issue was identified but left unresolved.
J&J Conversions Ltd, which designed, manufactured and installed the lorry’s twin-deck tilt and slide bed and carried out repairs, admitted failings in relation to the unsafe way the vehicle was designed and constructed, but Ontime Automotiv denied responsibility, which the family said put them “through years of anguish fighting this avoidable accident”.
Court news
The statement, issued by Mr Wallace’s family to getwestlondon , said: “We just wanted to say really that this was a senseless death.
“John worked for Ontime for many many years and only had this truck for a couple of weeks.
“He was the most kindest, safety conscious, hard working father, husband, son, brother and uncle.
“This could have easily been prevented if Ontime had a full risk assessment before John’s death and listened to the converters and sent this death trap back.
“We were not aware until last week this was asked of them.
“We know J&J took responsibility by admitting their guilt but Ontime unfortunately put us through years of anguish fighting this avoidable accident.
“We are pleased with the outcome, although it doesn’t bring John back to his family.
"However, hopefully [this will] be a warning to other large companies to take precautions and not to cut corners.
“We hope this guilty verdict will help save lives of workers in the trade and feel relieved some justice had been done.”
Ontime Automotive will be sentenced alongside J&J Conversions Ltd on a date to be fixed in late September.
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