Matthew Drummond Was Killed When Crane He Was Operating Collided With Overhead Power Cables

The widow of a business-owner who suffered a fatal accident while working has called for lessons to be learned to avoid a repeat of the type of accident that killed her husband.

Matthew Drummond, a self-employed machine operator from Ramsbottom, Bury, was delivering sand to a farm in Middleton on 8th April, 2016, when the HIAB crane on his tipper truck connected with high voltage overhead cables, causing Matthew’s death. He died at the scene, aged 28.

Following Matthew’s death, his wife Claire Drummond, 35, instructed specialist workplace accident lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the circumstances. The couple had been married five years, and had two children together, Asa, eight, and Molly, four.

On 13 September 2017, after a two-day inquest into Matthew’s death at Heywood Coroner’s Court, the jury entered a conclusion of accidental death.

Claire, a GP who still lives in Ramsbottom, said: “It will be an eternal source of great distress and pain that, if things had been done differently, Matthew’s death could have potentially been prevented, but our only hope as a family now is that lessons can be learned by the relevant authorities so others can be better protected.”

Matthew, who had met Claire while working on her father’s farm, had bought the tipper wagon, which he was using on the day of the accident, two months earlier. The purchase played a significant part in a new business Matthew had set-up to make deliveries and assist with other plant machinery type work, which he had vast experience in.

Matthew Garson, a specialist workplace accident lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Claire, said: 

Expert Opinion

“The family have been waiting for the conclusion of this inquest for a long time and it is of some relief that the inquest has now concluded.” Matthew Garson - Partner

Background

On the day of the accident, Matthew attended Mr Heywood’s farm for the first time. He was directed by Mr Heywood to where on the farm he wanted the sand delivering, an area which had become waterlogged. 

Due to the wooden poles which supported the overhead lines, Claire believes Matthew may have considered them to be telephone wires, and not high voltage power cables, and had they been clearly marked, he would not have positioned the crane directly underneath them.

Once there, Matthew then took controls of the crane to allow his tipper wagon to tip out the sand. It was at this point that the crane lifted sharply and came into contact with an overhead power line, resulting in Matthew’s fatal electric shock.

Matthew’s body was found by Mr Heywood, who himself received an electric shock when he approached Matthew, and he alerted the emergency services.

A police investigation found that there was no case for gross negligence manslaughter, however the incident is being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).