HGV Driver Acquitted in Falling Bricks Case

An HGV operator was acquitted of a charge of causing serious injury through careless driving, following an incident where a pallet of bricks detached from his vehicle and hit a woman. Slawomir Kotlowski, aged 41, was operating his vehicle in the New Forest, specifically between Ashurt and Lyndhurst, at the time of the event, as presented at Southampton Crown Court. The bricks struck Chloe Evans, then 23 years old, who was walking on Southampton Road. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, delivered a not guilty verdict after deliberating for 30 minutes, coinciding with the two-year mark since the incident occurred. Miss Evans was seen crying in court as the judge’s foreman announced Mr Kotlowski’s acquittal from the charge, concluding a one-week trial. Her family and friends offered comfort while defence barrister Ian Bridge informed the court that Mr Kotlowski was “absolutely heartbroken” by the event. Mr Bridge stated that his client “wished it to be on the record” that he extended an apology to Miss Evans. When the incident took place, Mr Kotlowski had been employed by Myers transport for a decade and possessed an unblemished driving licence. Testimonials from the company’s owners, presented to the court, characterized the father-of-three as a “conscientious, kind, helpful and hard working man”. Earlier in the proceedings, the court was informed that witnesses Robert Dilworth and Leon Palmer, who were driving a Ford van directly behind Mr Kotlowski on 31 October 2022, observed that the rearmost strap securing the bricks was not taut. According to court testimony, both individuals attempted to alert Mr Kotlowski to a problem by flashing their vehicle lights, sounding their horns, and making signals. During his summation of the evidence, Judge Peter Henry addressed the jury, stating: “Everybody is bound to feel enormous sympathy for Miss Evans, who was just walking along the street and suffered serious injuries. “One can’t of course feel anything other than enormous sympathy for her.”