‘Grandad Francis Barber's road death haunts me’
Speeding lorry driver is fined after killing pedestrian
Published: 24 June 2010
by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
A LORRY driver who knocked over and killed a retired gardener has described how he is haunted by the incident after admitting he was speeding at the time.
Jack Goose, 62, told the New Journal: “I wish I could turn the clock back.”
He hit Francis Barber, 66, as he was walking across a Camden Town road in October. Mr Barber, one of seven siblings, died from his injuries less than two hours later at the Royal Free Hospital.
Mr Goose was fined £550 and five points were put on his licence when he appeared in court on Monday.
Mr Barber’s daughter Fidelma issued an appeal for witnesses at the time of his death but was too distressed to attend the hearing.
Mr Barber was crossing Camden Road near the Murray Street junction when he was struck. Mr Goose, a truck driver and former army chef from Ilford, Essex, pleaded guilty to speeding and driving with a defective tyre – which police found was bald when they examined his lorry – when he appeared at Hendon Magistrates’ Court.
Speaking outside the court, he said the death had changed his life and that he would do anything to go back in time and alter the sequence of events.
“I’m deeply sorry for the accident,” Mr Goose said. “If I could turn the clock back I would. I’m sorry for the family – they’ve lost someone they love. I’ll never forget what happened.”
A friend who accompanied him to court, Sasha McSean, said the accident had left M r Goose deeply traumatised, affecting both his health and his ability to work.
The circumstances of Mr Barber’s death were subject to a lengthy investigation by traffic police following the accident. A spokesman said the tragedy highlighted the importance of driving safely and within the speed limit.
A tachograph – known as the “spy in the cab” by lorry drivers as it records their speeds from a device inside the vehicle – showed Mr Goose had been driving the 7.5-tonne vehicle at 37mph in a 30mph zone when he hit Mr Barber, who lived in Islington.
At an inquest in April, St Pancras coroner Dr Andrew Reid said Mr Barber would not have been hit had the lorry been driving at the correct speed limit.
He ruled Mr Barber died “as a result of an accident to which the speed of a vehicle contributed”.
Hendon Magistrates’ Court bench chairman Dr Malcolm Coleman said: “It’s clear an incident occurred, with tragic consequences. We aren’t sentencing you for that. We are sentencing you for driving above the speed limit and driving with a bald tyre. The reason you shouldn’t speed or have faulty tyres is because it’s dangerous.
“Pedestrians’ lives are put at risk, as they have been tragically in this case.”
Police Sergeant Simon Castle, of the Central Traffic Unit, said the tragedy had affected both Mr Barber’s family and also Mr Goose, and urged motorists to pay heed to the legal speed limits.
He added: “This case shows that even on a very clear road where the weather is good, that a little bit of extra speed means you’re taking longer to stop – and that might make all the difference.”
He said Ms Barber didn’t go to court because “she knew what was likely to happen and it was never going to bring her father back”.