Sad news

[Richard Farrant]

I do not think this piece of sad news has been posted on the forum yet, but it appears that on Saturday, a fatal road accident occured with a Canadian Ford gun tractor in Lancashire. The vehicle had evidently broken down and was being towed when the tow rope broke and the Ford got out of control. The driver, Gary Wood, subsequently died of his injuries.

For more on this;
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk...eath_crash.php

Richard

moderator´s note: Lancashire Telegraph link updated 15-oct-2007

[Barry Churcher]

Richard, thanks for posting the link. It is indeed a sad thing to have happen. Sometimes these WW2 vehicle accidents can be a real detriment to this hobby. One thing that I find interesting is that the British police closed the road for an hour for the investigation. Why can't we get some of these guys over here for our road fatality investigations? the OPP typicaly has the 401 shut down for 4 to 8 hours when anyone id killed on the road
here.
Barry

[Barry Churcher]

Sorry, I hit the submit button and didn't get a chance to preview my many errors!! Barry

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Barry Churcher
One thing that I find interesting is that the British police closed the road for an hour for the investigation. Why can't we get some of these guys over here for our road fatality investigations? the OPP typicaly has the 401 shut down for 4 to 8 hours when anyone id killed on the road
here.

Barry,

Sounds like an unfortunate accident which could have happened with any vehicle.

Regarding closing the roads to investigate, they must be quicker up there, than in my part of the country!

Richard

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Richard, sad news indeed ... I hope we all learn from Gary's fatal mistake.

Hanno

[Keith Webb]

That is very sad and scary too... despite the size of the vehicle there are a lot of hard things to make contact with if you're unrestrained in an impact.

Let's make this a wake-up call to be especially careful when behind the wheel of our CMPs.

As someone who has been in a towed CMP before I can readily imagine how this would have happened. As I mentioned before... frightening and very sad.

[Neil Ashley]

Presumably the brakes on the Ford failed if the driver was relying on a tow rope rather than a solid bar.

If the driver was relying on the hand brake the police will obviously have concerns.

[Keith Webb]

In that situation you may be relying on engine braking too - in a panic it's possible to knock the transfer case into neutral then there's no way to get it back into gear without the engine running.

Did anyone here know Gary personally? Is the vehicle familiar to anyone?

[Pedr]

Very sad to hear of the passing of one of the fold, and probably the demise of a vehicle too.

My condolences to his family and friends - especially if he is know to any here.

Please all keep in mind, our hobby concerns very heavy machinery and the utmost care must be taken at all times.

Trucks and Tanks and things, can be rebuilt - but people can't.

Don't take chances that risk yourself or others.

Respectfully

Pedr

Cheers Mr Wood

[Rich Payne]

Further to Hanno's link in the "Lost LAAT" thread, I have noticed that the newspaper report of the inquest is now on-line.

http://www.therossendalefreepress.co..._accident.html

[Keith Webb]

Here is what's linked:

A FORMER soldier was killed when he was thrown from a vintage military truck after its brakes failed, an inquest heard.

East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor heard Gary John Wood, of Mansion House Buildings, in Crawshawbooth, was determined to drive the Second World War Canadian gun tractor he was renovating back to his home on 1 July last year.



Lond-standing friend Andrew Wheelhouse set off in convoy with Mr Wood, 48, and another friend, from where the vehicle was being kept in Eccleston.
Mr Wheelhouse told the inquest the truck broke down as they approached the Grane Road roundabout.

A decision was made to tow the vehicle using Mr Wood’s Toyota Hilux pickup.

But as they travelled downhill, past the reservoir, the brakes on the truck failed, causing it to catch up with the Toyota.

Mr Wheelhouse, who was driving the Toyota, told the inquest at Burnley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday that he struggled to keep the rope tight and it began to snag. The rope snapped and the truck, which had no seat belts or doors, overtook the Toyota and ploughed into the crash barrier.

Mr Wood was thrown from the vehicle, which then collided with a dry stone wall.

He was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital but later died from severe head injuries.

Mr Wheelhouse said: ‘For Gary it was one of life’s great adventures. We would still have been talking about it now.

‘He was in the middle of the convoy with his sunglasses on looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was in his element. He thought it was fantastic.’

Mr Wood had formerly served in the British Army, including a stint in Northern Ireland, and was a self-employed builder up until his death.

His mother Sheila Hindle said: ‘He had always been interested in steam engines and he was into Second World War vehicles.

‘His friends tried to get him to scrap the vehicle and he was offered to bring it home on a low-loader, but he wanted to drive it.’

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Taylor said: ‘This vehicle was his pride and joy. He saw the moving of this vehicle as a considerable adventure. He was having the time of his life. Tragically, the brakes failed and in a position where nothing could have been done about it.’

Lisa Kenyon

First published by the Rossendale Free Press