German lorry driver hunted after crash

Michael Burkert had been due to appear at York Crown Court on Friday last week, but he failed to turn up and a bench warrant has been issued for his arrest.

It is thought Burkert, 40, has returned to Germany after suffering from ill health, and doctors have claimed he is too poorly to return to the UK to stand trial.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed yesterday that a nationwide search is underway to track down Burkert before an application for a European arrest warrant is made by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Burkert’s trial at York Crown Court was halted in January after it was deemed that he was too ill for proceedings to continue.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge of dangerous driving at a previous hearing.

Burkert has been charged in connection with a crash on the A64 to the north of York on March 8 last year. A Mercedes lorry crashed into a Volkswagen Lupo that was in a queue of cars at temporary traffic lights. The driver of the car suffered head injuries and was taken to York Hospital.