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Parking row leads to accident
Page 14
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Truck driver faces jail after parent run over in incident over parking outside a school. Mike Jewell reports.
A LANCASHIRE truck driver who was alleged to have mown down a parent in a road rage attack outside a school has been cleared of attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm.
However, Judge Penry-Davey warned Brian Southgate. of Daffodil Close. Haslingden. that he will probably be jailed after he was convicted of dangerous driving.
Manchester Crown Court heard that the parent, Gary Steven. was run over by Southgate's truck as children were leaving Heap Bridge Primary School in Heywood. Southgate was said to have lost his temper because cars were parked on either side of the road, making it difficult for him to get through.
Steven spent nine weeks in hospital with a fractured pelvis and a hip joint -smashed like an eggshell" following the incident and is now registered disabled.
Steven. a former truck driver himself, gave evidence from a wheelchair. He said that there was some kind of commotion as one truck came down the hill and another was going up it. Southgate got out of his cab and gestured to the other driver to reverse. Southgate was then said to be abusive to Steven's girlfriend and there was an altercation. Steven thought that was the end of the matter and walked back to his car.
He then heard Southgate revving his engine violently and when he looked over his shoulder the truck was practically on top of him. He believed Southgate had deliberately driven at him.
Southgate said he was absolutely devastated by what had happened. He had never intended to knock anyone over or to injure anyone. He was mortified when he found he had hit Steven. He believed that Steven had already got back in his car before he started his vehicle and began to move off. He then felt a bump and he stopped straight away. He got out and saw Steven on the floor.
He told the court that he had no reason to be angry, although he was involved in a row with a woman outside the school. He got back in his cab only for Steven to yank open the door and threaten him. He didn't want to get involved, he said he just wanted to get out of the way.
Southgate's sentence was adjourned for reports.