Death of Scots nursery teacher killed in horror lorry crash was 'avoidable'

Chloe Morrison, 26, was struck by a fully extended part of a stabiliser on John O'Donnell's lorry as she walked along a pavement with her mother
-Credit:Universal News & Sport Scotland


The death of a Scots nursery teacher who was killed by a lorry as she walked on a pavement could have been avoided, an inquiry has found.

Chloe Morrison was hit by a steel beam from an extended outrigger leg of a lorry as she walked along a footpath with her mum next to the A82 road at Kerrowdown, near to Drumnadrochit, on October 25, 2019. The 26-year-old, from the village near Loch Ness, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Driver John O'Donnell, then 53, from Inverurie, was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for 12 months in October 2022.

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Ms Morrison's family has called for a review of the sentence.

A Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) into her death has found that operators Glenevin Limited could have taken a number of precautions to avoid the tragedy.

Sheriff Ian Hay Cruickshank, who led the inquiry, ruled that the firm should have been aware of the absence of a notstowed” warning system in relation to the outriggers on the HGV driven by O’Donnell.

The scene of the collision
The scene of the collision

In addition, the Sheriff said that Glenevin Limited, while having instructed John O’Donnell not to operate the lorry loader during loading or unloading, should have taken steps to ensure he was trained, as part of daily walk around checks, to ensure that the outriggers were secure prior to commencement of the journey.

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A total of four recommendations were made to Glenevin Limited and the UK Government, including the introduction of robust safety check systems and daily walk around checks of any HGV. The UK Government, through the Secretary of State for Transport, must also consider introducing provisions for all HGVs to be fitted with audible and visible warning systems.

John O'Donnell.
John O'Donnell.

These warning systems must be installed to all HGVs fitted with outriggers - regardless of their year of manufacture.

Concluding the inquiry, Sheriff Cruickshank said: "No words can adequately describe the tragic loss of Chloe Morrison in the circumstances of the collision which led to her death. There is no doubt in my mind that her death occurred in circumstances which give rise to serious public concern.

"Without rectification of certain requirements relating to the installation of safety systems relating to lorry loaders there remains a possibility that similar circumstances could arise again. I have concluded that steps could be taken which might realistically prevent deaths in similar circumstances"

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Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on death investigations for COPFS, said: “The tragic death of Chloe Morrison occurred in circumstances giving rise to significant public concern and as such a discretionary Fatal Accident Inquiry was instructed. Chloe’s death was a devastating loss for her family and my thoughts are with them at this difficult time.”

O’Donnell was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for 12 months after being found guilty of causing Chloe’s death by careless driving. He was sentenced after a six-day trial at the High Court in Stirling.

Chloe’s father Robert slammed the sentence and said O’Donnell was “a b*****d”.

Speaking after sentencing, Mr Morrison said: “It’s as if he killed Chloe all over again today, such was the reaction to his sentencing.”

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