A DRIVER delivering a load of sand to a back street claimed he had not seen a Bolton man before he was crushed under the vehicle’s wheels.
Clive Atkinson, a 65-year-old grandfather, died at the scene at Back Bradford Street East after being hit by the Travis Perkins drop-sided delivery lorry on the morning of November 28, 2020.
The lorry driver, 42-year-old Kevin McManus, of Elton Avenue, Farnworth, denies causing death by careless driving and has gone on trial at Bolton Crown Court.
Opening the case for the prosecution, Andrew MacKintosh, told a jury how Mr Atkinson lived at a flat in Bradford Street, Haugh, and had agreed to help his landlord, Waheed Khalid, build a brick wall at the front of the property.
Mr Khalid ordered a delivery of sand from Travis Perkins and, shortly before it was delivered just after 9.30am, Mr Atkinson moved his van from his parking spot behind the flats to the opposite side of the back lane.
He was still sat in his Peugeot van when McManus arrived and began reversing the DAF lorry along the back street towards the flat.
Mr Khalid told the court how he indicated to the driver where he wanted the sand unloaded.
McManus stopped for 1.25 seconds before driving forward again and hitting Mr Atkinson, who had got out of his van and was walking across in front of the lorry.
Mr Khalid told how he spotted Mr Atkinson under the lorry and told McManus, "You've just hit Clive".
McManus replied that he had not seen him and went to try and assist the injured man while Mr Khalid called 999.
McManus was said have appeared "shocked" and "devastated" by what had happened.
When paramedics arrived a short time later they found Mr Atkinson's injuries were so severe he was "beyond help".
The court heard that the lorry's cab was fitted with six mirrors, including two close proximity mirrors to give the driver a view of his surroundings.
"Either the defendant didn't check the mirrors or didn't carry out adequate checks on those mirrors and, as a result he failed to see Mr Atkinson, drove into him and thereby caused his death" said Mr MacKintosh.
The trial continues.
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