OAP killed as Amazon driver tried to protect his vehicle

‘He feared bosses would fine him’

AN Amazon delivery driver caused a fatal smash when he overtook a truck to avoid being sprayed by loose road chippings.

Mustaffa El Akad, 28, thought bosses would dock his wages if his van was scratched.

Desperate to get past the 44ftlong HGV, he made the ‘dangerous’ decision to overtake the lorry and smashed head-on into a pensioner’s car.

Great-grandfather Ellis Davenport, 89, of Whitchurch, Shropshire, suffered catastrophic injuries and died six days later in hospital.

Last night his family criticised Amazon after El Akad, of Tipton, near Dudley, Staffordshire, was jailed for two years and four months.

Mr Davenport’s 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 the crash happened on the A530 near Comberbach, Cheshire, on October 28 last year.

El Akad, a Romanian law student who came to Britain seven years ago to earn money for his family, was travelling at 62mph in a 50mph zone when he crossed double white lines to overtake the truck.

Questioned, he explained that he was worried that his bosses would punish him if his van was damaged. The lorry in front had been sending debris from a hedge and chippings onto his vehicle, he said.

Gareth Roberts, defending, said: ‘The 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.’

El Akad admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was banned from driving for six years.

An Amazon spokesman said it applies tough safety rules to delivery firms it uses.