My son was killed on 17th December 2003 when his scooter hit a defective manhole cover he then collided with an hgv. i have been in touch with the bbc, jeremy vine, women’s magazines (who informed me they dont like road accidents, women’s mags that is) any ideas where i can go to get my story heard. the hgv driver who i have spoken to on many occassions was treated appallingly and it has obviously ruined his life too. it was just one big cover up trying to protect the local government which we proved it was their fault because of the roads they tried to blame my son and the hgv driver, it just makes you think how many times they get away with this
I think I speak for all on this site,when I say we feel for you.
You’ve made a good start by finding this site,as it’s full of people from within our industry,and is also read by others from outside too.
One of the industry magazines,that sponsor this site,is Truck and Driver,and it’s head honcho,TK Dave,is a poster on here.If he reads this,then perhaps he may consider it for the magazine,which would be another rung on the ladder for you,and then it may be picked up by others.
Anything that affects the people who keep this country running,has got to be worthy of media coverage.
Thank you so much Ken
i do hope so, i actually have proof of the local council covering up their evidence (not that they had any to start with) they even changed the manhole cover straight after the accident and denied it but we had photographs. Like i said i have spoken many times to the hgv driver and we actual hugged each other at the inquest it was them against us so to speak
thank you again
i just want somebody to listen and to not be afraid of speaking against the government. i found out in our local authority alone, repairs for the roads have a back log of several years
I’d like to add my own condolences for your your loss and hope that the comments I’m going to make will be taken as they are intended, in a spirit of resolution.
Have you tried your local paper? The time that has elapsed may mean that they do not see the story as current, I did not see how much time has elapsed since the inquest but it would appear to be some time ago, have ther been any more incidents that you are aware of that have similarities and would suggest a wider problem. As cold as it will seem to you if your sons accident was a solitary one then a replacement manhole cover has probably removed a local interest for the paper. A number of incidents might raise the interest if others could be seen to be at risk.
Have you tried your MP? He/she may be able to rattle some cages which will get you the answers you are seeking.
Another point to consider is the service that uses the manhole cover, by that I mean who is responsible for it. If the cover was for a utility e.g. telephones then that utility would be responsible for the safety of its plant though I believe that the local authority may have powers to do work to make sites safe if the utility will not.
As I said earlier I hope these comments will not upset you and your family and wish you well in your search for resolution.
I’m very sorry to hear of the sad loss of your son Callum in this needless way.Try contacting your local councillor,the head of the highways department rsponsible for road maintainence and the leader of your council.Make an official complaint and take it through all the stages necessary.When they’ve messed you about and you’ve got nowhere make a complaint to your local government Ombudsman stating your complaint.I’m assuming they had knowledge of the defect before your Callum’s accident and that’s the basis of your campaign? The press if they’re interested would be some help.Others have made good suggestions too.It all takes time but after losing your Callum what does time matter? Don’t let them grind you down Roseanne.Good luck and best wishes for the future,please keep in touch,
Thanks everyone for your replies.
The council will not admit any liability even though they have actually paid out the maximum compensation between themselves and united utilities, which we did not want but was adviced to take by our solicitor. We have approached counsellors and the MP but at the end of the day the issue is against them so they will not commit themselves to anything just constantly tell us it wasn’t there fault.
The local paper have been brilliant but basicially it is a national paper we need and yes it is nearly two years ago so old news. I know the bbc have been reading documents i have sent them for the “real life” programme i will have to ring them again. I cannot go into much detail but i have spoken to the hgv driver who has started to issue a case against the local council but they are still denying it by saying they had a good inspection of repairs, this was thrown at them by the coroner who suggested that they review their inspection regime.
i have about fifty witness statement that say the manhole cover had been in that condition for several years. I know i can never bring my son back but i just want people to be aware i told my son to watch out for other drivers never did i think he had to watch out for all the manhole/potholes that are all over our roads. Also the treatment the hgv driver received was terrible luckily everything to do with his vehicle was spot but if it hadn’t been we know the blame would have been on him. The hgv driver told the police straight after the accident that my son had hit a pothole and they tried to twist his statement also the conclusion was drawn three months before the hgv gave his written statement blaming my son for being a new driver the hgv drivers statement went missing but luckily we had a solicitor who managed to trace it. We were told 5 minutes before the accident investigator was going on the stand he had just suffered a stroke and nobody could ask him where all the documents were about the accident.
Thank you for listening
love callum’s mum
p.s on www.4callum.com there are some newspaper articles
I have had numerous conversations with fellow drivers & even police officers regarding poor road design & maintenance contributing to R.T.A’s.
An example of poor road design would be where the same type of accident occurs repeatedly at the same location
One that springs to mind is the amount of lorry “roll overs” that occur on the northbound approach to the “Five lanes end” roundabout on the A1.
Also as in your case poor maintenance with vehicles jolted in & out of potholes & lorries “popping” in and out of the tramlines on motorways & trunk roads.
As the government are keen to bring in corporate manslaughter to the statute books.
Maybe the instances of this type of accident would fall dramatically if the head of the local authority or highways agency could also be brought before the criminal courts under these laws?
Have you thought of going along this route.Maybe if you consulted your solicitor to see if this was possible now (especially as you say you have evidence of a cover up)under current legislation.
I’m pretty sure that if you brought the head of the local authority/highways agency/utilities co. you would get the “Nationals”
beating down your door for an interview.
It doesn’t surprise me that the council have tried deny any responibility, and pass the blame on to anybody who they can think of. It’s basically what they do when anything happens. Think of time when children at risk are killed and some poor junior takes the rap, but they were over worked and under qualified to do the job. The person at the top who should take resposibility has teflon shoulders and a degree in passing the buck.
Anyway ways of trying to help you and stop this happening to other 2 wheel users.
Have you tried MAG the Motor Cycle Action Group, they campaign for bikers rights. They also might have infomation about similar cases, and if you could show several cases of this happening then a program like “the real story” might take more interest. That’s if they arn’t looking for more reasons to have a go at truck drivers.
I hope some of the idea’s have helped and please keep in touch about your campaign.
My condolences to you Roseanne, my thoughts are with you.
I drive many many miles , along with the majority of drivers on T/N, and it sickens me when i drive along our roads and highways and looking at the state of repair they are. And when they do a repair…its with cheap materials, and the foundations are not deep enough. The tarmac they lay on the top is also not thick enough, which is why there are always tramlines formed after a repair. Common sense would tell you that if you increase the weight limits of trucks, you have to increase the strength of roads they are going to travel on, but our governments, are not interested, and neither are our so called representatives of the transport industry.
Whe i travel locally along B class roads, i cant help but notice the sunken drains and the pot holes that are there. I wonder how much damage to vehicles they cause, and of course the tragic loss of life they contribute to.
Maybe one day the motoring organisations will pressure the government to spend the large amounts of revenue they get from transport, and spend it o the road infrastructure, instead of diverting it away to give to other causes.
God bless your son, and you for your sad loss.
like everyone else sincere condolences,never give up your fight with the local council.they always hope that people will suffer battle fatigue and give up the fight.
Hi Roseanne, may I add my most sincere condolonces on the sad loss of your son, Callum.
Just suggestions and maybe not appropriate but can you not approach the HSE with the evidence you hold and bring prosecution under HSE legislation against the parties deemed responsible, after all Highways Authorities and Utilities who operate under NRSWA Regulations have a duty of care to the users of the Roads, Footpaths, etc.
If publicising this tragic incident is your goal then perhaps you could take out a full page add in the local press and see what interest that may generate with the local Radio, TV ,etc.
Another option may be private prosecution through the civil courts.
Thank you everyone for your replies. i have read all the wonderful posts and just not had time to answer them yet but will make it my priority. I work in the gas industry - very busy at the moment as you can imagine
thank you again
having somebody who listens means the world to me
thank you
