Mechanic crushed by rolling truck
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• A fitter died after a truck rolled over him as he carried out maintenance at a West Midlands haulage depot, an inquest has been told.
Health & Safety Executive officer Brian Martin told the West Bromwich inquest that the Daf 7.5-tonner rolled forward from a ramp after Stephen Walton, 54. of Wednesbury, West Midlands, switched on the engine without realising the handbrake was off and the vehicle was in gear. Walton was crushed against the ramp and died in hospital from multiple injuries.
Stephen McEnvoy, a director of Filbourne, trading as Limerick Transport of Mill Street, Tipton, West Midlands, told the inquest that Walton was employed to carry out maintenance on the Oaf on 2 July.
"Mr Walton was working on the vehicle when I heard a noise and saw the lorry rolling forward onto to his legs," said McEnvoy. "I ran to the vehicle and tried to stop the lorry with the help of chains. I then dialled 999. Mr Walton was an experienced mechanic and driver who had worked for us for about a year."
Martin said that the Health & Safety Executive was asked to carry out an investigation and discovered that Walton had tilted the cab and could reach the ignition to turn the engine on to help test a new brake fitting.
Sandwell coroner Robin Balmain recorded a verdict of accidental death.