Rescue driver’s M60 death case reviewed

PROSECUTORS are reopening their files on the death of a recovery truck driver hit by a car on the M60 after an inquest ruled he was unlawfully killed.

Denis Livesley (60) from Oldham, died after being hit by a VW Golf which skidded on ice and snow near junction six at Sale.

The car’s driver, Sophie Wilkinson (23), from Bolton, was twice interviewed by police but no action was taken. Coroner John Pollard adjourned the inquest in May and asked the Crown Prosecution Service to review the decision.

No action has been taken but the CPS has now contacted Mr Pollard to say it will review the evidence in the case.

A CPS spokeswoman said: “We have contacted the coroner to let him know that we will carry out a further review of this case.”

The jury took eight hours to return their verdict of unlawful killing following the hearing in Stockport.

The inquest heard how Mr Livesley, a grandad of eight from Leesbrook, had been loading a Volvo, which had crashed due to the weather conditions, on to his truck when he was hit by the VW.

He was attended by passers-by and an ambulance crew, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Trafford hospital after the collision on December 21, 2009.

As well as working for GM Recovery Limited, Mr Livesley drove stars such as Pink Floyd, Elton John and Sting across Europe, delivering their stage equipment.

Nadia Kerr, a partner at Pannone solicitors said after the case: “The family would welcome a decision from the CPS that they will now prosecute.”

Mr Pollard said he would write to the chief constable of Greater Manchester Police and to the Highways Agency asking them to look at their protocols and ensure the safety of recovery drivers who were called to pick up cars following motorway crashes.

He said officers from both organisations who were called to the scene had obeyed their organisations’ procedures.

But he added: “It does seem to me that in the prevailing weather conditions, the emergency services ought to have considered not just the safety of the driver whose car had been involved in a crash but also the safety of anyone who is required to recover the driver of that vehicle.”

A GMP spokesman said: “GMP notes the observations of the coroner.”

The Highways Agency is believed to be awaiting the coroner’s letter.

Mr Livesley’s wife Wendy said after the verdict: “The whole family has been absolutely devastated by Denis’s death. At least the inquest provided answers as to precisely what happened on the day Denis died.

“We now want lessons to be learned from the mistakes that were made so that no one else doing the job Denis did, does in the same circumstances.”