Post by admin on May 10, 2007 2:24:21 GMT 1
A FORMER soldier was killed when he was thrown from a vintage military truck after its brakes failed, an inquest heard.
East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor heard Gary John Wood, of Mansion House Buildings, in Crawshawbooth, was determined to drive the Second World War Canadian gun tractor he was renovating back to his home on 1 July last year.
Lond-standing friend Andrew Wheelhouse set off in convoy with Mr Wood, 48, and another friend, from where the vehicle was being kept in Eccleston.
Mr Wheelhouse told the inquest the truck broke down as they approached the Grane Road roundabout.
A decision was made to tow the vehicle using Mr Wood’s Toyota Hilux pickup.
But as they travelled downhill, past the reservoir, the brakes on the truck failed, causing it to catch up with the Toyota.
Mr Wheelhouse, who was driving the Toyota, told the inquest at Burnley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday that he struggled to keep the rope tight and it began to snag. The rope snapped and the truck, which had no seat belts or doors, overtook the Toyota and ploughed into the crash barrier.
Mr Wood was thrown from the vehicle, which then collided with a dry stone wall.
He was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital but later died from severe head injuries.
Mr Wheelhouse said: ‘For Gary it was one of life’s great adventures. We would still have been talking about it now.
‘He was in the middle of the convoy with his sunglasses on looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was in his element. He thought it was fantastic.’
Mr Wood had formerly served in the British Army, including a stint in Northern Ireland, and was a self-employed builder up until his death.
His mother Sheila Hindle said: ‘He had always been interested in steam engines and he was into Second World War vehicles.
‘His friends tried to get him to scrap the vehicle and he was offered to bring it home on a low-loader, but he wanted to drive it.’
Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Taylor said: ‘This vehicle was his pride and joy. He saw the moving of this vehicle as a considerable adventure. He was having the time of his life. Tragically, the brakes failed and in a position where nothing could have been done about it.’
Lisa Kenyon
First published by the Rossendale Free Press
East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor heard Gary John Wood, of Mansion House Buildings, in Crawshawbooth, was determined to drive the Second World War Canadian gun tractor he was renovating back to his home on 1 July last year.
Lond-standing friend Andrew Wheelhouse set off in convoy with Mr Wood, 48, and another friend, from where the vehicle was being kept in Eccleston.
Mr Wheelhouse told the inquest the truck broke down as they approached the Grane Road roundabout.
A decision was made to tow the vehicle using Mr Wood’s Toyota Hilux pickup.
But as they travelled downhill, past the reservoir, the brakes on the truck failed, causing it to catch up with the Toyota.
Mr Wheelhouse, who was driving the Toyota, told the inquest at Burnley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday that he struggled to keep the rope tight and it began to snag. The rope snapped and the truck, which had no seat belts or doors, overtook the Toyota and ploughed into the crash barrier.
Mr Wood was thrown from the vehicle, which then collided with a dry stone wall.
He was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital but later died from severe head injuries.
Mr Wheelhouse said: ‘For Gary it was one of life’s great adventures. We would still have been talking about it now.
‘He was in the middle of the convoy with his sunglasses on looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was in his element. He thought it was fantastic.’
Mr Wood had formerly served in the British Army, including a stint in Northern Ireland, and was a self-employed builder up until his death.
His mother Sheila Hindle said: ‘He had always been interested in steam engines and he was into Second World War vehicles.
‘His friends tried to get him to scrap the vehicle and he was offered to bring it home on a low-loader, but he wanted to drive it.’
Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Taylor said: ‘This vehicle was his pride and joy. He saw the moving of this vehicle as a considerable adventure. He was having the time of his life. Tragically, the brakes failed and in a position where nothing could have been done about it.’
Lisa Kenyon
First published by the Rossendale Free Press