Inquest Concludes Man Died After Being Struck by Van and Trailer

An inquest has revealed that a municipal employee was killed when he was struck by a van operated by a colleague and subsequently run over by the trailer it was towing. Craig Pointon, from Sneyd Green, Stoke-on-Trent, sustained fatal head injuries during the incident on Canal Lane, Longport, on 30 May 2022. Following an inquest conducted on Monday and Tuesday, a jury determined that the 50-year-old individual’s death was a consequence of a road traffic collision. Stoke-on-Trent City Council stated that Mr. Pointon, who had been employed by the authority for nearly 25 years, was a “highly valued” colleague and characterized his death as a “tragic accident.” Testimony presented at the inquest indicated that Mr. Pointon was on Canal Lane to cut grass verges when Robert Dean, the van’s driver, stopped, engaged in a brief conversation, and then proceeded to drive off. It was reported that Mr. Pointon was subsequently hit by a mudguard of the vehicle and appeared to collapse underneath the trailer, with the van continuing approximately 7.5m before coming to a halt. Evidence presented during the inquest suggested it was “quite impossible” for Mr. Dean to have reacted with sufficient speed to prevent the incident. On Tuesday, the jury delivered its conclusion, stating that Mr. Pointon was “run over by both the nearside trailer wheels, resulting in fatal haemorrhages” and that his death occurred as a result of a road traffic collision. The inquest was informed that the city council has implemented several modifications subsequent to the incident, including a 45-minute competency driving test and more stringent regulations concerning corporate induction for new employees. A spokesperson representing the authority described Mr. Pointon as a “much respected” colleague. They further stated, “He was a highly valued member of the grounds maintenance team and is sorely missed. Our thoughts remain with his family and friends.” The spokesperson concluded, “This was a tragic accident that the jury has concluded was caused by a road traffic collision. We have offered support to staff who were involved in the incident as well as our wider family of staff.” This report was compiled by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers local government bodies and other public service entities. For further updates, BBC Stoke & Staffordshire can be followed on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC does not assume responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding the approach to external linking is available.