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news
Justice (Lonpicman, Wikimedia Commons)Lorry driver whose view was blocked by dashboard tray table guilty of killing cyclist
A lorry driver who hit Birmingham cyclist Dr Suzanna Bull because his view was blocked by a dashboard tray table has been convicted of causing her death by careless driving. Robert Bradbury, aged 50, told jurors he installed the tray table to be "one of the lads".
Bull, 32, died from "catastrophic" injuries after being hit in Pershore Road, Edgbaston, on October 9, 2017.
Bradbury denied causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving.
The Daily Echo reports that the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the latter charge and he may now face a retrial. He was bailed to return to court on October 28.
Bull was in a designated cycle lane when she was hit. Bradbury had passed her on Pershore Road before pulling up behind a van at a set of lights at the Priory Road junction.
Bull went ahead when the lights turned green and Bradbury turned left into her. The court heard that she was "dragged under the lorry".
Michael Duck QC, prosecuting, said Bull was in a position where Bradbury should have seen her.
He failed to see her because a tray-table, a cap, a sat-nav system, a fan, ornaments and other items had been placed in the centre of the dashboard of his 32-tonne Scania.
Asked why he had the tray table, Bradbury said: "Just so I could be one of the lads. They all had one so I got one."
The table’s presence would have meant an MOT failure, but Bradbury said he wasn’t aware of this.
"There was no indication of that at all. I was just told to tidy up as it was going in for its MOT."
Prosecuting, Michael Duck QC asked: "Did it really take the death of a young lady to tell you that was dangerous?"
Bradbury replied, "Beforehand, I had never had an issue with the table at all."
The court heard that Bradbury had regularly put items on the tray table and had been warned about it.
Asked if he knew who was at fault for the accident, Bradbury said: "It was six of one and half-a-dozen of the other."
Bull worked at Birmingham Children's Hospital. Speaking after the case, Dr Fiona Reynolds, the chief medical officer at Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, said:
"Suzanna was a much-loved and respected member of our team and during her time with us she made a real difference; offering exemplary care to our children, young people and families.
"Her kindness, compassion and commitment to the job she loved shone through and I'm sure she would have gone on to achieve so much."
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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9 comments
What worries me is how many other vehicles could have the same life-threatening faults. If only we had the police to enforce the law.
Especially as "he was one of the lads" when he installed the visibility obscuring table. They should have asked him who else he knows who has one and then did each one of the ones mentioned for driving an unsafe vehicle.
As for enforcing generally, It was mentioned in one news story once that Police did have a "lorry" so they could actually see inside the cab for distracated drivers as they can't from normal patrols. However I assume like most initiatives (like the WMP RHRT), it was probably folded due to cost.
Having followed this case, I'm delighted that we don't have another killer driver Gail Purcell or killer driver Dr Helen Measures type instance.
There needs to be a clear reflection of the severity of the case in the sentencing and follow up. Firstly, the driving ban needs to be serious. Secondly, the driving ban should prevent this driver from getting another HGV license. Thirdly, the Health and Safety Executive need to come down like a tonne of bricks on the company in question. If they know about this hazard, and still let the vehicle on the road, then they are culpable and should face the consequences.
RIP Dr. Bull
Yes, you would have thought there's grounds for a prosecution of the haulage company.
Ordinary and HGV licences are treated differently by the relevant authorities. When a driver, banned by the courts, regains his Ordinary licence it is then up to the local Traffic Commissioners whether he ever regains his HGV. My experience tells me he will have endless trouble getting his and, in any case, the cost of insuring the guy would deter any employer from taking him on.
Yet again, a lifetime driving ban should be imposed here. There is no good reason to have people like this driving on roads - it's not like we have a shortage of drivers.
I hope his scoff was worth it.
I do hope the fact that the driver appears to be unrepentant is reflected in sentencing - for the charge for which he has been found guilty or the more serious one he may yet face - and after prison this clueless individual is never allowed to drive anything again.
That’s actually the opposite of what the Liverpool Echo reports.
"It was six of one and half-a-dozen of the other."
In what way Mr soon to be ex lorry driver?
You, who didn't care for sick children, are not dead, or even slightly injured.
And the cyclist did not decide to obscure her view by using an overcrowded dash mounted tray table.
There appears to be a distinct lack of remorse here, he seems to only care about how it has affected his very selfisf self.