451 – Tanker driver pushing trapped Clio driver down motorway is innocent

Sean Joyce from Stephensons – and Business Car Manager contributor – defended tanker driver of any wrong doing

Business Car Manager: Editor’s Blog

I DON’T know whether you picked it up on YouTube or perhaps the news, but in a truly horrifying incident a Renault Clio driver became trapped at the front of a lorry and was pushed helplessly down the motorway.

You can see the incident on www.BBC.co.uk here: https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/10162158.stm.

The driver of the tanker, John Tomlinson from Lancashire, appeared before North West Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell but was cleared of any wrong doing today. He was represented by one of our contributors, Sean Joyce, from Stephensons Solicitors.

Sean had this to say:

“After an extremely thorough investigation by West Yorkshire Police into this incident, they have concluded that my client is innocent and he has been wholly vindicated of any wrong doing.

“Despite previous sensationalist reporting of this incident, he has always maintained that the situation which occurred was entirely accidental. There was a gentle coming together of the two vehicles as the Clio undertook the tanker in what West Yorkshire Police have described as an ill-advised manoeuvre by the owner of the Clio as it joined the A1.

“From his elevated position in a well-insulated cab, he had no knowledge of the initial impact or that the car was being pushed along by his vehicle. When he did become aware, he immediately took steps to stop his vehicle and in doing so, prevented serious injuries to the Clio driver.”