Coach driver may have hit brake and accelerator

VICTIM Alan Chamberlain

A COACH driver said he may have accidentally pressed the accelerator as well as the brake pedal before a fatal accident in Greenfield.

Alan Chamberlain (57), from Hyde, died after crossing Chew Valley Road, in front of an 18-tonne coach during the Saddleworth band contests in May 2010.

At a Stockport inquest yesterday pathologist Dr Paul Dickens said Mr Chamberlain died from multiple injuries including fractured ribs and pelvis, internal bleeding and spleen injuries.

Mr Chamberlain’s eight-year-old son Zac was also trapped under the vehicle in Chew Valley Road, but escaped with bruising and a broken tooth.

Dr Dickens said Mr Chamberlain had consumed alcohol to a level that may caused his speech to be slurred.

Paul Hill, an experienced driver for Selwyns Travel, said a marshall told him to set off, so he checked his mirrors and looked around before slowly moving off.

He was forced to perform an emergency stop when he noticed Mr Chamberlain at the front left of his coach but, in a moment of panic, he said he may have pushed both pedals together, causing the coach to accelerate.

He said: “I believe that may be what happened. I did tell the policeman at the time. It was an emergency stop but I think I hit the accelerator as well as the brake — I was on both pedals.”

“There were a lot of people who were frightfully close to the coach,” he said.

“You couldn’t differentiate between the pavement and the road as there were lots of people.”

Investigating officer PC Wayne McGregor said the vehicle would have passed its MOT, that the front of the vehicle had little damage and that the minimal speed had not been shown up on the tachograph.

The coroner said the evidence was consistent with being run over by a heavy vehicle.

He added: “I don’t find any evidence to suggest that the standard of driving fell below that of a reasonable, prudent driver.

“The driver was told to move off, did all his checks, but hadn’t seen Mr Chamberlain.

“I have to exclude any suggestion of death due to care and attention or dangerous driving. What happened here was a genuine accident.”

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He also said he would write a letter to the contest organisers, bringing the incident to their attention and asking them to ensure the event is properly marshalled in future, adding: “It may help another family not to be in the same situation.”

The fatality was the first accident in the history of the Greenfield competition.

This year, following a full review, safety measures were stepped up to avoid coaches and audiences taking the same route.