Boss 'tried to cover up brake faults on death-crash lorry' (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Anti-lock braking system not working, court told

6:20am Wednesday 25th March 2009 in News By Marc Meneaud

The transport manager of a plant machinery firm tried to cover up vital evidence after one of the company’s road sweeping lorries was involved in a fatal crash, a jury heard.

The lorry had crashed on the Drighlington bypass causing the death of 30-year-old Yasmin Nazir, who died at the scene, and seriously injuring her husband Mohammed, Leeds Crown Court was told yesterday.

The couple’s young daughter Isha, who was a passenger in the family’s white Peugeot 106, also suffered injuries in the accident on October 5, 2006.

The family had been travelling towards Bradford on the A650 when the 18-tonne Volvo road sweeper, which had a braking fault, spun across the carriageway, through a central reservation barrier and into the path of the family’s car before smashing down a fence and coming to rest in a field.

The lorry driver, Robert Bolam, 44, of Topcliffe Lane, Morley, had been driving too fast and had known the vehicle’s Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) was not working properly, prosecutor Paul Greaney told the jury.

He had his mobile phone flipped open on his lap and had been distracted as he approached traffic queuing at a set of temporary lights, Mr Greaney said.

Andrew Pinder, 41, of Round Hill Close, Clayton Heights, Bradford, the transport manager at Cleckheaton-based Angus Heron Ltd, drove to the scene and took his mobile phone from him after the crash, the jury heard. Police later found the LG mobile wrapped in foil in the glove box of Bolam’s car.

Bolam told police he had swerved to avoid a cat which had run out and he had skidded, causing the accident.

Mr Greaney said: “No-one else saw that cat. That is because, say the prosecution, it did not exist.

“Robert Bolam was driving too fast and he was distracted by his mobile phone.”

Mr Greaney said Bolam had told witness Matthew Simpson, “I couldn’t stop, I was going too fast,” – a claim Bolam denies.

The prosecution alleges Pinder had known the ABS on the road sweeper was faulty because of a warning light.

But he had allowed Bolam to drive it anyway and, after the crash, had asked mechanic Leslie Cherryholme to falsify service documents for October 5 and August 16, to show the vehicle was in working order.

Mr Greaney said Pinder claims he only asked Mr Cherryholme to “make sure everything was up to date” and denied instructed him to falsify records.

“He suggested Leslie Cherryholme was attempting to cover his own back,” he said.

Bolam denies causing death by dangerous driving.

Pinder denies aiding and abetting death by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice.

The trial continues.