i’ve copied this story from the Nottingham Evening Post.
the same or a similar story is featured in this weeks commercial motor.
The widow of a policeman killed by a lorry has urged the Government to clamp down on drivers working excessive hours.
Gaynor Needham’s emotional appeal came after she watched Sean Emery, 36, receive a four-year sentence for causing the death by dangerous driving of her husband, Detective Constable John Needham.
Emery, of Sandon Road, Meir, Stoke-on-Trent, was behind the wheel of the lorry that hit DC Needham on the A50 between Uttoxeter and Doveridge on August 3, 2003. DC Needham, who had been seconded to the National Crime Squad in Nottingham, was off duty and competing in a cycle time trial.
The driver had worked 41 of the previous 57 hours for three different clients, breaching strict laws, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
Emery’s employer was FDS Future Driving Services, based in Stoke and Derby. Its former Stoke boss, Brian Alcock, 38, from Park Avenue, Ashbourne, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was yesterday jailed for three years and banned from being a company director for seven years.
Prosecutor Andrew Dallas said Emery had been driving overnight for 13 hours when the accident occurred.
Before that he had worked a 15-hour shift, driving 388 miles, with only a seven-hour break in between.
This, the court was told, flouted all legal guidelines, making Emery “dangerously tired and fighting sleep” as he encountered PC Needham.
He failed to see the father-of-three on his cycle because he suffered a "microsleep’', only jolting awake after he had hit him.
After the sentencing hearing, Mrs Needham stood on the steps of the court flanked by her children Sarah, Jessica and Luke and other members of her family as Inspector Jock Munro of Derbyshire police read a statement on her behalf.
It said: "John died as a result of the greed of individuals. John died because people want to make more money regardless of the safety of others.
“We hope that John’s death will result in something positive - that the Government will ensure transport agencies like Mr Alcock’s will come under strict legislation.”
Yesterday, Emery also received a six-month concurrent sentence along with his brother James Emery, 43, and brother-in-law Philip Logan, 49, after they admitted perverting the course of justice by concealing, destroying and falsifying documents on hours worked.
Sadie Weston, 21, of Park Avenue, Ashbourne, was cleared of manslaughter and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, and Katie Turner, 21, of Brook Road, Strentham, was cleared of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
a very sad story that does nothing to depict those of us that call ourselves professional drivers in a very good light.
a driver that probably wouldn’t take a full time job offer because it would restrict his earning potential has stolen a mans life, ruined a families future and as a sidenote made us look like cowboys out for what we can get without a thought for the safety of others.
four years in prison, was this enough?
there is no mention of any driving ban for emery but i am of the opinion that this man should be relieved of his driving licence for a very long time and should never again be able to hold a professional drivers qualification.
