\n<\/p>\n
A coroner has raised concerns about legal maintenance requirements for some agricultural vehicles after a man was killed when he was struck by a faulty tractor.<\/p>\n
Richard Ellis, 65, died on Harwoods Green Lane in Stopham, West Sussex, on 23 October 2023 after a tractor which had been towing his stranded pick-up truck out of a ditch had a handbrake malfunction.<\/p>\n
Mr Ellis, a HGV driver, had been collecting an electricity generator from a country estate using a trailer at the time of the incident.<\/p>\n
West Sussex, Brighton and Hove coroner Joanne Andrews ruled that his death was an accident but raised concerns that further deaths could occur.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Mr Ellis’ truck was freed from the ditch by a nearby estate worker using the tractor, but when the pair removed the towing strap from the vehicles the tractor’s handbrake failed causing it to roll onto both men.<\/p>\n
The tractor driver survived, but Mr Ellis suffered serious chest injuries and died at the scene.<\/p>\n
The handbrake was examined after the incident and it was found that the pawl of the handbrake was significantly worn and would likely have slipped previously.<\/p>\n