OAP killed as Amazon driver tried to protect van
AN AMAZON delivery driver caused a fatal smash when he overtook a truck to avoid been sprayed by loose road chippings.
Mustaffa el Akad, 28, thought bosses would dock his wages if his van suffered scratches.
Desperate to get past the 44ft-long HGV, he made the ‘dangerous’ decision to overtake and smashed headon into a pensioner’s car heading in the opposite direction.
Great-grandfather ellis Davenport, 89, suffered catastrophic injuries and died six days later in hospital. Last night Mr Davenport’s family hit out at Amazon after el Akad was jailed for two years and four months.
His son-in-law, Anthony Heath, 60, said: ‘Amazon are a ruthless company. They were pushing for more and more from this driver, putting him under that much pressure. Maybe it is time that they reviewed their procedures.’
Chester Crown Court heard how the crash happened on the A530, near Comberbach, Cheshire, on October 28 last year. Investigators found that el Akad, a Romanian law student who came to Britain seven years ago to earn money for his family, was doing 62mph in a 50mph zone when he crossed double white lines to speed past the lorry.
When questioned, he explained that he was worried his wages would be docked by Amazon if his van suffered any damage. The lorry in front had been sending greenery from a roadside hedge and chippings on to his vehicle, he said. Gareth Roberts, defending, said: ‘The tragic, desper- ate reason for overtaking the lorry was because, as he was driving behind it, it was showering twigs and kicking up chippings.
‘He was concerned the company would fine him and dock his wages if the van was in any way damaged.’ Retired engineer Mr Davenport, who was known as Monty, ‘stood no chance’ as his Nissan Micra was hit head-on. He died in hospital despite the efforts of surgeons.
The pensioner’s two daughters read statements to the court describing their devastation at the death of their father, who would have celebrated his 90th birthday tomorrow.
The active widower had lived almost all his life in the same home in Whitchurch, Shropshire, and enjoyed bell-ringing, crown green bowls, trout fishing and gardening.
He served as a radio operator with the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry in Cyprus, Palestine, Malta and egypt during the Second World War and later worked at Vauxhall Motors.
His youngest daughter, Janice Heath, 56, said her father would climb the 90 steps to the bell tower of his local church up to three times a week – and had applied for his first passport in almost 70 years to travel to Spain for a family wedding.
el Akad, of Tipton, near Dudley, West Midlands, admitted death by dangerous driving.
He was also banned from driving for six years and ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge.
Carol Hopwood, of Slater and Gordon Solicitors, which represented Mr Davenport’s family, said of the pensioner: ‘He was a conscientious driver whose life was tragically cut short by the reckless act of a stranger.’ Amazon said it applies tough safety rules to delivery companies it uses.
‘Pushing for more and more’