Christopher Baker dies in fatal Nuneaton cycling accident

Christopher Baker dies in fatal Nuneaton cycling accident

Fatal Nuneaton cycling accident death of Christopher Baker – Obituary

Christopher Baker, 70, was tragically killed when a massive metal heat exchanger fell from a moving lorry as he cycled down College Street in Nuneaton on June 18, 2021. The heavy goods vehicle, operated by JW Morley Transport Ltd, was transporting four industrial heat exchangers weighing over 10,000 kilograms. As the lorry navigated a bend in the road, the load shifted, causing a securing strap to snap and one of the units to fall, fatally striking Mr. Baker.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) concluded that the load had been poorly secured, using worn-out straps and without the use of stabilizing equipment such as transport frames or friction mats. HSE officials stated the incident was entirely foreseeable and preventable.

Further findings revealed that while the driver held a valid Heavy Goods license, he had not been trained in load security procedures and was not provided with an appropriate securing plan for the unusual cargo.

Mr. Baker’s wife, Rose, shared her heartbreak in a statement, reflecting on their 54 years of marriage and the deep loss felt by their family. She described her husband as her soulmate and emphasized the devastation caused by the preventable accident.

JW Morley Transport Ltd, based in Bedworth, pleaded guilty to violating health and safety laws. The company was fined £90,000 and ordered to pay over £8,000 in additional costs following a court hearing in Birmingham.