Recovery driver killed in M60 crash

Man hit as he worked on hard shoulder

A RECOVERY driver salvaging a vehicle on a motorway hard shoulder suffered fatal injuries after a car ploughed into him.

An inquest heard Denis Livesley, from Gowram Park, Leesbrook, died after a Volkswagen Golf hit him as he loaded a Volvo on to his truck next to the M60.

Police officers had attended the crash site near Sale earlier and had advised Volvo driver Paul Harrington to stand behind the crash barriers, but had left after handing over to Highways Agency officers.

Highways Agency officer Nichola Jones told the jury at Stockport Magistrates’ Court that after arranging for a recovery vehicle to come and assist Mr Harrington, she and her colleague, Reece Newell, left to continue their normal patrol.

Mr Livesley (60) had arrived shortly afterwards and loaded the Volvo, which had slid on ice, on to his lorry on the hard shoulder.

He was securing it with straps when he was hit by the Golf. When quizzed by Jason Wells, acting for Mr Livesley’s family, Ms Jones admitted that she hadn’t been trained to assess the risk of leaving a crashed vehicle and its driver.

“It was a relatively safe environment for the car and its driver,” she said. “It was facing the correct way, with its hazard lights indicating, the driver was out of the vehicle and behind the barrier.

“Recovery operators are aware that if they need assistance, we will go back and offer protection.”

Passers-by, including a doctor and an ambulance crew, attempted to save Mr Livesley but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Trafford General Hospital.

The accident happened on the morning of December 21, 2009.

As well as working as a recovery vehicle driver for GM Recovery Ltd, Mr Livesley drove across Europe with stars like Pink Floyd, Elton John and Sting, delivering their equipment to concert venues.

His widow, Wendy Livesley, is taking legal advice from solicitors.