A 57-year-old Viridor collections services driver was killed at 07:15 yesterday (8 June) after trying to control a runaway lorry in the grounds of Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital.
The driver, who is expected to be named shortly, was pronounced dead at the scene following the incident that appears not to have involved any other vehicles or people.
Local newspaper, the Plymouth Herald, reports a policeman on the scene as saying: “There has been an incident here involving a skip lorry where the trailer, for reasons that we are investigating, has rolled away while the driver has been out of the vehicle.
“It would appear the driver has attempted to stop the lorry rolling away, has fallen, and unfortunately he appears to have been run over by his own lorry.
“We are investigating the cause as to why the lorry should have moved with him out of the cab.”
Viridor has stated that it is working closely with the authorities as a full investigation gets underway.
The company has expressed that its ‘deepest sympathies are with the driver’s family, friends and colleagues’.
Glasgow City crash
The incident comes just six months after an ‘out of control’ Glasgow City Council bin lorry collided with pedestrians on Glasgow’s Queen Street in December 2014, killing six and injuring 10 others.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.