Worker killed as he guided lorry driver into yard
A man died when he was hit by a car after going to help a lorry reverse into a yard, an inquest heard.
The system used by a company's lorry drivers to reverse into the yard has been banned following the death of 62-year-old Philip Ledward, of Whitchurch, the hearing was told.
Philip Sutton, general manager of Arkenfield Stable Hire Ltd, said it had been served a prohibition notice, which meant that all lorries now drove straight into the yard in Ellesmere Road, Bronington.
He was giving evidence at an inquest in Ruthin into the death of Mr Ledward, who died when hit by a car near the entrance of the yard in November, 2011. Mr Ledward, an HGV mechanic, of Bathfield Crescent, was one of three employees who went to assist when one of the company's lorries arrived at the entrance.
One of the other men, Hugh Morgan Jones, said the practice was for the lorries to wait near the entrance while workers went down the road in both directions to warn motorists to slow down while the reversing was taking place.
Mr Jones said that Mr Ledward stood by the cab talking to the driver Anthony Jackson. It was dark at the time, with no street lighting around, and though Mr Ledward had a hi-vis vest on he was wearing blue overalls on top of it.
"I saw a car coming round the bend and shouted to Phil 'look out'," he said. Car driver Joshua Maychild said he was doing about 50-55mph but didn't see Mr Ledward until after he had hit him as he passed the stationary lorry.
Collision investigator Colin Dobbins said that the damage to the front offside of the car and marks on the road indicated that Mr Ledward had probably been standing in Mr Maychild's lane but almost impossible to see behind the lorry's headlights.
Mr Ledward suffered multiple injuries and was certified dead at the scene.
Mr Sutton said he had been unaware that drivers used to reverse into the yard.
Recording a conclusion of accidental death, North East Wales Coroner John Gittins said that Mr Ledward was clearly not a risk-taker.
"The majority of the time he wore a hi-vis vest but on this occasion he put his overalls on top, which made him virtually invisible. One can only assume it was a momentary lapse of concentration," he said.
The coroner said one of the reasons for the delay in holding the inquest was that consideration was being given to whether anyone would be prosecuted but it had been decided that no prosecution would ensue.
