Lorry driver cleared of causing the death of Ingleby Barwick dad

Arthur Page denied he had caused Wayne Howen's death by dangerous or careless driving on the A1

A lorry driver was today cleared by a jury of causing the death of a Teesside man by dangerous or careless driving on the A1.

Arthur Page denied causing the death of 38-year-old Wayne Howen by dangerous driving.

And after a trial jurors found the 59-year-old not guilty of the charge at Teesside Crown Court today.

The jury also cleared Mr Page on the alternative charge of causing death by careless driving.

Mr Page appeared emotional in the dock after the unanimous verdicts were announced.

And Judge Tony Briggs thanked the jury for their attention to the “unusual and difficult matter”.

Mr Howen, from Ingleby Barwick, was killed in an accident on the A1 near Kirkby Fleetham, North Yorkshire on September 12, 2012.

The dad’s stationary HGV was hit, he suffered fatal crushing injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Howen was on his way to deliver gas canisters to a BOC site when the tragic accident happened.

He had stopped his articulated tractor unit in the left hand lane of the carriageway with two badly damaged tyres after he was involved in an accident minutes earlier, the court heard.

The Crown said Mr Howen’s vehicle was lit up, he had placed warning triangles and cones on the road, wore a fluorescent jacket and waved a torch to direct traffic.

The prosecution alleged that Mr Page, a haulage driver, fell asleep at the wheel and caused the accident by his inattention.

His lorry struck Mr Howen’s truck to the rear, causing it to jack-knife and trap Mr Howen, killing him instantly.

Former paramedic Mr Page, from Worlaby, Lincolnshire, denied feeling tired.

He said he remembered swerving and braking before the crash, in which he suffered a punctured lung and broken leg and ankle.

The court was told he was diagnosed with sleep apnoea - which causes people to stop breathing while they sleep - following the accident.

Mr Page said he was not aware of the symptoms until he was diagnosed and didn’t know whether the accident was his fault or down to the medical condition.