‘Gentle giant’ grandfather died after Cambs driver jack-knifed lorry

A Cambridgeshire lorry driver has been sentenced after causing the death of a grandfather in a crash. Rowan Day was travelling home from work on his motorcycle on November 3, 2022, when a lorry driven by Alan Howe jack-knifed in front of him. Mr Day, 63, died at the scene on the A151 Corby Road at Grimsthorpe.

His family described him in a tribute as a “truly beautiful man” and the “gentlest of giants”. The family tribute said: “No-one can truly understand the emotional struggle this has ever caused having lost a singular true soul mate, the father to a loving son and grandad to a beautiful baby granddaughter. Life can and will, never be the same for any of the family.”

It added: “Rowan died needlessly and tragically whilst doing what he loved so much. He was a very accomplished capable motorcyclist and he loved it as a hobby and as his mode of transport to commute to work. He had two bikes, one of which was his work horse for getting to and from work but his other was the bike he cherished, his ‘green beasty’, a ZZR 1400 he adored and rode with the utmost respect and enjoyment.”

A Lincolnshire Police spokesperson said “there was nothing he could do to avoid a collision” when the lorry jack-knifed across both lanes. The force spokesperson added: “Howe was driving a white Mercedes Actros articulated lorry on the A151 Corby Road at Grimsthorpe, towards Bourne. “After he had negotiated a left-hand bend, the nearside wheels of his HGV left the carriageway going onto the grass verge.

Howe’s attempt to prevent the lorry falling into the nearside ditch resulted in the lorry jack-knifing and crossing into the path of Rowan Day’s motorcycle.” Howe, 55 of Thorn Close, Soham, Ely[1], pleaded guilty part way through a trial at Lincoln Crown Court. He was sentenced to nine months in custody suspended for two years, was disqualified from driving for 12 months, and was fined GBP1000.

You can read the full tribute from Mr Day’s family here[2].

References

  1. ^ Ely (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
  2. ^ here (www.lincs.police.uk)