Runaway lorry disaster that claimed six lives yet helped make every …

Just after 9am on September 6 1993, an out of control lorry carrying tonnes of stone collided with a car and a BT van on a steep hill in Sowerby Bridge.[1]

The 30-tonne runaway lorry and the BT van hit three women and a child on the pavement before crashing into a Post Office and houses.

Six people lost their lives in the disaster. The lorry driver, Derek Waterworth, 64, died in the crash. The others who lost their lives were Ann Crossley, 32, and her two-year-old daughter, Karen, along with Peter Scott, 42, a BT engineer, Angela Rook, 28, and Beryl Rose, 49.

Mr Stott was from Luddendenfoot, near Halifax. The others victims were all from Sowerby Bridge. One local school, Bolton Brow Primary, had six pupils who lost a mother in the tragic crash.

Today (Wednesday, September 6), candles will be lit in a local church to remember the six lives lost.

Six people lost their lives when a runaway lorry crashed in Sowerby Bridge in September, 1993

Mr Waterworth, from Bradford[3], died as a result of crush injuries. An inquest later heard that the other victims died instantly or within a few minutes of the incident.

The inquest heard that the eight-wheel tipper lorry's brakes were excessively worn. Four brake shoes were worn right down and all eight brake drums were excessively worn.

A police officer told the inquest that the lorry driver would have had little indication that anything was wrong until he had needed to brake heavily.

The coroner later ruled that the six people had been unlawfully killed.

After a long campaign by the relatives of those who died, a transport company manager was charged with manslaughter. The charges were later dropped when a judge ruled that he would not be able to get a fair trial.

After the tragedy, lorries of more than 17 tonnes were banned from using roads through the town, it was reported.

Thirty years on, members of the community will remember those whose lives were lost that day.

Six people died in the crash when a lorry hit a van and shops in Sowerby Bridge in 1993

Today (Wednesday) Christ Church in Sowerby Bridge will be lighting candles and remembering the six lives lost.

The church posted an open invitation on social media to allow people to visit the church and light a candle in remembrance.

A spokesman said: "Join us next Wednesday, September 6th, as we open our church to give everyone the opportunity to remember the six lives lost at Bolton Brow on the 30th anniversary of the tragic accident.

"We'll be open from 12:15pm-1:15pm and again from 4:45pm-6:00pm. Let's come together to light candles in remembrance and reflection."

YorkshireLive has launched a WhatsApp community and anyone who joins will get the latest breaking news and top stories sent direct to their phone. To join click here.[4]

References

  1. ^ Sowerby Bridge. (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
  2. ^ Yorkshire dad with four-week-old baby suffers devastating freak injury and can't get sick pay (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
  3. ^ Bradford (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
  4. ^ here (www.examinerlive.co.uk)

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