In 2017, cyclist Dr Suzanna ‘Suzie’ Bull was tragically killed when she was struck by a lorry on Pershore Road at the junction with Priory Road in Birmingham.
Robert Bradbury, aged 51, was found guilty of causing death by careless driving by a jury in October last year and in December, was sentenced to 21 months in prison. He was also handed a two year and 10 month driving ban.
As a result of the sentencing, a public inquiry was opened by the Traffic Commissioner.
This was despite S & J Transport, the company he worked for, pleading guilty to the offence of failing to discharge their duty contrary to the Health and Safety at Work Act and being fined £112,500 and ordered to pay £3,000 in court costs.
On Wednesday (2nd September), they were officially closed down and its company directors and transport manager have been disqualified for a period of five years after it was found they deliberately misled the Traffic Commissioner at the hearing.
PC Mark Crozier from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit listened to representations from the company at the hearing that contradicted what was heard at the Crown Court trial.
PC Crozier had investigated the whole case and was aware of the intricate details around the aggravating factor of a table on the vehicle dashboard which was found to have severely obscured the driver’s view.
PC Crozier raised his concerns and the inquiry was adjourned to a later date while he submitted his evidence from the trial.
In July, the hearing was resumed and the company’s barrister admitted that his clients had lied about their involvement in allowing tables and other things on the dashboard such as a fan and toys.
