A van driver has been jailed for 4 years after failing to safe a scaffolding board which struck the windscreen of a automotive and left an 11-year-old boy lifeless.
Russell Le Beau, 34, from Eastbourne, was driving his car on Top Road in Hooe, East Sussex, when a collision befell at round 3pm on 15 December 2022.
He had not secured scaffolding boards on the van correctly, inflicting one in every of them to turn into suspended in mid-air at an angle throughout the carriageway in the other way.
Scaffolding boards are used to supply a platform for development staff.
The protruding board would have been seen in Le Beau’s wing mirror as he was driving, Lewes Crown Court heard.
Lee Dennis was driving his automotive in the other way along with his 11-year-old son Harry within the passenger seat and his 13-year-old daughter within the again.
Mr Dennis had no time to react to forestall the scaffolding board from putting the window of his automotive and leaving Harry with critical accidents.
The boy needed to be flown to Kings College Hospital in London the place he died from his accidents days later.
Le Beau was arrested and later charged with inflicting dying by harmful driving.
Investigators from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) discovered the picket boards had been solely clamped down by a steel pole at one finish, on the very rear of the van, with no ratchet straps, internet or tarpaulin securing them.
They additionally discovered there was no straps, internet or tarpaulin bag being carried wherever within the car.
This meant there was nothing to forestall one of many scaffolding boards from swinging out throughout the carriageway.
The HSE report concluded that load safety on the car was “grossly inadequate” and Le Beau had not adopted the protected loading of scaffolding steerage.
Le Beau pleaded responsible to inflicting dying by harmful driving earlier than he was sentenced to 4 years in jail and was disqualified from driving for seven years.
Tribute from boy’s mom
Harry’s mom Maria Dennis stated after the case: “Harry was our beautiful son with the biggest of smiles and the biggest of hearts.
“His variety, caring and enjoyable nature made such an affect on so many. He would take others underneath his wing, serving to his buddies to develop in confidence and to consider in themselves.
“If Harry could make someone laugh it would make his day. His giggle was infectious and memories of we share memories of his antics daily. His smile lives on in us – his family, and his friends.”
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The Dennis household stated Harry was a “true sportsman”, taking part in soccer for Hastings Athletic Football Club, and stated he all the time gave 100% in every thing he tried, including “his ambition to win was second to none, but equally he was always humble in defeat”.
Delivering the sentence, Judge Christine Laing KC informed Le Beau: “You were driving whilst that vehicle was dangerous.
“I’ve little doubt that you just had been ready to take a danger regardless of the rush was that day.
“But you set off with catastrophic consequences. You were at the wheel and bear the responsibility for not checking.
“I settle for that you just did not intend to trigger hurt, however you took a most gross danger by driving with an insecure load.”
Source: information.sky.com”