On February 9 a 32-tonne tipper truck carrying sand and gravel careered apparently out of control on a steep hill in a residential area of the city of Bath smashing into pedestrians and cars killing four people, including four-year-old Mitzi Rosanna Steady who was with her grandmother. Four other people were injured, one left in a critical condition. Tuesday two men, one the 19-year-old driver of the truck, Phillip Potter, from Brinkworth in Wiltshire, the other a 28-year-old man, have been arrested. Police said today both men are charged with manslaughter by gross negligence. Days before last week's tragedy Potter had celebrated qualifying to drive an articulated lorry. "Potter posed with his licence on Wednesday 4 February. His father, Frederick, wrote on Facebook: “Very proud day of Phillip Potter passing his HGV artic test first time day after his nineteenth birthday well done – feeling happy.” At the crash scene he reportedly managed to escape thrown the shattered window of his vehicle and was initially given comfort by a local resident.
Others who encountered the heavy tipper truck and its load were not so lucky. The tipper truck and its contents also caused damage to walls, gardens and signage in Lansdown Lane which was described as a scene of devastation. Mitzi Steady's grandmother remains critically ill. Police quickly gathered evidence from the scene and launched an investigation. More to follow
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |