Lorry driver charged over motorway death of Pc Mark Goodlad

A LORRY driver has been charged with causing the death by dangerous driving of a police officer who was hit by a vehicle as he helped a stranded motorist on a motorway hard shoulder in West Yorkshire.

By The Newsroom

Published 30th May 2012, 15:00 BST

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had given permission to West Yorkshire Police to charge Andrew Abernethy, 45, from Oldham, Greater Manchester.

Pc Mark Goodlad, 41, died when an orange Scania articulated heavy goods vehicle hit a marked BMW X5 police car and a grey Suzuki Swift on the southbound carriageway of the M1, near Crigglestone, officers said after the tragedy on October 24, last year.

The police car and the Suzuki were both stationary on the hard shoulder.

Pc Goodlad was between the two vehicles, helping the 51-year-old female Suzuki driver. The woman suffered minor injuries in the incident

Jane Cryer, District Crown Prosecutor with CPS West Yorkshire said: “Following an investigation by West Yorkshire Police, our lawyers have decided that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to prosecute this offence.”

Abernethy has been bailed and is due to appear before magistrates in Wakefield next month.