A council employee was knocked down and killed in a horror workplace crash. Stoke-on-Trent City Council employee Craig Pointon was on Canal Lane, in Longport, to cut grass verges when tragedy struck.

The 50-year-old was struck by a van being driven by a colleague. It was towing a trailer carrying a ride-on lawnmower and the impact dragged Craig under the trailer and left him with fatal head injuries.

Now an 11-strong jury has ruled Craig died as a result of a road traffic collision. CCTV of the incident had not been disclosed to the jury due to its 'graphic and unpleasant' nature.

Craig, from Sneyd Green, had worked at the council for around 25 years and was part of the Streetcare and greenspaces department. Van driver Robert Dean had worked for the council for five weeks when tragedy struck on May 30, 2022.

The inquest heard that following analysis of available CCTV footage and witness statements Mr Dean pulled up in the work van and after a brief conversation started to drive away. It was at this time that Craig appeared to take a step back, was struck by a mudguard, and appeared to collapse under the trailer. The vehicle travelled approximately seven-and-a half-metres before coming to a stop.

Craig had worked for Stoke-on-Trent City Council for almost 25 years (Nub News).

It was 'quite impossible' for Mr Dean to have reacted quickly enough to avoid the tragedy.

The inquest heard the council has made a number of changes following the tragedy. These include a 45-minute competency driving test which is now signed off by another department and records stored on a database and tighter rules around the corporate induction for new starters.

Delivering its verdict, the jury stated: "On 30 May 2022 while working for the greenspace team at Stoke-on-Trent City Council on Canal Lane, Longport, Craig Pointon was struck by a trailer and subsequently run over by both the nearside trailer wheels resulting in fatal haemorrhages." 

A Stoke-on-Trent City Council spokesperson said: "Craig was a much-respected colleague who had worked for the council for almost 25 years. He was a highly-valued member of the grounds maintenance team and is sorely missed. Our thoughts remain with his family and friends.

"This was a tragic accident that the jury has concluded was caused by a road traffic collision.

"We have offered support to staff who were involved in the incident as well as our wider family of staff."

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READ MORE: Man admits sexual assault and strangulation following attack on woman in Stoke-on-Trent

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