Family slams safety failings over crush death

The family of a man crushed to death by a lorry has voiced scathing criticism over the failure to combat the “wind-tunnel effect” caused by Yorkshire’s tallest building.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Dec 2013, 00:01 BST
The scene after the lorry was blown over at the foot of Bridgewater Place in LeedsThe scene after the lorry was blown over at the foot of Bridgewater Place in Leeds
The scene after the lorry was blown over at the foot of Bridgewater Place in Leeds

Edward Slaney, of Sowerby Bridge, near Halifax, died after being hit by the vehicle as he walked close to 367ft Bridgewater Place in Leeds city centre in March 2011.Pedestrian Natasha Mahoya suffered lasting injuries in the same incident.

An inquest in Leeds heard that the lorry was blown “like a hot-air balloon” towards the pair by freak gusts of up to 79mph.

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Problems that have been caused by high winds surrounding the base of the 30-storey Bridgewater Place had been well-documented ever since its construction in 
2007.

Recording a narrative verdict, Deputy Coroner Melanie Williamson recommended that the junction closest to the skyscraper be closed in strong winds until a solution is found.

Speaking after the inquest, Dr Slaney’s family welcomed the call – but criticised the lack of action before and after his death.

His brother, Andrew Slaney, said: “We are relieved that this process has concluded today and hope that the coroner’s recommendations are implemented in full so that we can learn from my brother’s death and this can never happen again.

“This problem was known about for four years before Ed’s death and it has taken since then to get action. If action had been taken earlier Ed would still be with us today.”

Related topics:YorkshireLeedsBridgewater PlaceSowerby BridgeHalifax