In a recent verdict at Bristol Crown Court, Anthony Baker, 48, has been convicted of dangerous driving following a serious incident on the M5 near Bristol.
The court heard that Baker’s actions, which resulted in his tipper truck becoming wedged under an overhead gantry, led to the closure of the motorway for nearly 14 hours.
The prosecution detailed that on 2nd March 2023, Baker, employed by GTI Transport at the time, was observed by other motorists driving with the lorry bed fully raised along the M5 southbound carriageway.
This critical oversight culminated in a catastrophic impact with the gantry, causing the lorry bed to tear away from the vehicle and knock a matrix sign onto the road.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the incident. However, the potential dangers were significant, with the risk of the matrix sign striking vehicles moving at high speeds or the gantry collapsing onto the busy motorway.
During the two-day trial, the jury reviewed compelling evidence, including CCTV footage and dashcam recordings depicting the moments leading up to the collision.
It was revealed that Baker, despite holding a clean HGV license since 2016, did not habitually check whether the lorry bed was lowered after making deliveries—a basic safety procedure that could have prevented the incident.
In response to questions during police interviews, Baker admitted to not routinely verifying the position of the lorry bed but claimed he was unaware of any mechanical malfunction that could have caused the issue.
The court further learned that while some tipper lorries in Baker’s previous employment had alarms to alert drivers of raised beds, those at GTI Transport did not, although this was not a legal requirement.
PC Ian Hudson from Avon and Somerset Police emphasized the severity of Baker’s negligence, stating, “Anthony Baker’s failure to perform even a basic check that the lorry bed had been lowered is inexplicable and put other road users in danger.”
He highlighted the critical importance of road safety and the potential catastrophic consequences of such oversights.
Throughout the proceedings, Baker, represented in court by legal counsel, acknowledged his actions as careless but did not directly address the accusation of dangerous driving. The prosecution argued that Baker had become complacent in his duties, a claim that remained unchallenged during cross-examination.
As a result of this incident, GTI Transport has since outfitted its entire fleet with alarms to alert drivers if the lorry bed is raised, demonstrating proactive steps towards preventing similar occurrences in the future.
Anthony Baker was released on bail following the verdict and is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on 2nd August. The outcome of his sentencing will determine the repercussions he faces for endangering public safety through his negligent actions on that fateful day on the M5.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
