Contract worker crushed by reversing lorry – inquest begins

A groundworker, who was run over by a reversing lorry on a Thame building site, died ‘instantly’ a jury inquest heard today.

Stephen Buck, who lived in Neath, North Wales, died whilst working on a housing development, owned by Bloor Homes, on April 18, 2017. Mr Buck’s wife, Kay, told the inquest that her husband had worked in the building trade for 40 years, and that he loved his job. A digger driver, Nick O’Brien, recalled how he saw Mr Buck under the rear of the reversing lorry, hanging on trying, unsuccessfully not to be pulled underneath.

CCTV footage showing Mr Buck in a high vis jacket with his back to the moving lorry, was shown to the jury but was stopped at the point of impact. After describing Mr Buck’s ‘devastating’ injuries, the pathologist, Dr Nicholas Hunt, said that there was nothing anyone could have done to save his life.

Stephen Buck, 58, was a subcontractor working for ECL Construction.

The hearing is expected to last for three days.

SOURCE: BBC www.bbc.co.uk/news/