A HGV driver has kept his licence and been hailed a hero after a freak accident in which his tanker was filmed pushing a car sideways along a motorway.
John Tomlinson was praised by the Traffic Commissioner for staying calm in the near-disaster which was filmed by another driver and put on YouTube.
Mr Tomlinson’s solicitor, road transport expert Sean Joyce, is a partner at Stephensons Solicitors LLP. He said: “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.
“This incident, was as they say, a freak of nature.
“This decision by the Traffic Commissioner confirms the previous decision by the Police, and I am pleased that he has been allowed to keep his licence.
“As my client has been cleared of any wrong doing I would ask you to respect his and his family’s privacy.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The latest edition of Legal 500 ranks Stephensons as a top 60 UK law firm and the fifth largest legal practice in the North West. The firm has 29 partners and more than 350 staff in offices across Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
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