'Inappropriate' straps used to fix water tank that 'pinned' Thornaby dad to wheel before fatal crash
Straps to secure an 800kg water tank which "pinned" a window cleaner to his steering wheel in a fatal crash were "inappropriate", an inquest has heard.
Dad-of-three Andrew Langstaff, 42, died after suffering fatal injuries in a crash in Billingham on March 2, 2023. The Thornaby man was "pinned" to his steering wheel by an 800kg water cylinder breaking through his van bulkhead.
Teesside Coroner's Court heard Mr Langstaff was a subcontractor at Teesside Window Cleaning - a firm now dissolved - and working in a company van on the afternoon of March 2. Witnesses described the driver "swerving all over the road" before he crashed into an oncoming Citroen C3, on Sandy Lane West, while he was on the wrong side of the road.
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According to pathologist Peter Nigel Cooper, the dad, who lived on Thames Avenue, Thornaby, died from a "haemorrhage due to rupture of the ascending aorta". Dr Cooper said he believes the injury was caused by "force transmitted through the breastbone".
Giving evidence at Mr Langstaff's inquest on Thursday afternoon, forensic collision investigator Michael Woodhouse, described the window cleaner's driving prior to the collision. He said dashcam footage appeared to show the dad moving across the path of another driver on the Billingham Arms roundabout and narrowly missing mounting the kerb and pedestrian barriers.
He said the driver then straddled the central white lines before returning to the correct side of the road. "There are several occasions along that journey prior to the collision where Andrew's vehicle drifts across the centre road markings," the investigator explained. "At one point it is almost fully in the opposing carriageway for his direction for travel."
Mr Woodhouse said investigators revealed Mr Langstaff's phone map app was in use up until the point of collision and a photos app had also been accessed during the journey. The jury heard he was on the wrong side of the road when he crashed into another vehicle and tragically died from his injuries.
Mr Woodhouse told the hearing the dad's vehicle was recovered and examinations found there were no mechanical "defects" which contributed to the collision. However, he said it was "evident" there'd been movement of the water tank.
He said: "It had compromised the makeshift bulkhead of the vehicle - it had come through and damaged the integrity of the seating to the point where the back rests had been pushed forward."
'Ratchet straps were inappropriate'
Mr Woodhouse said the cylinder was 90-95% full and weighed around 800kg. He said that ratchet straps were used to secure the tank and were weaved in and out of its apertures. However, the investigator said these were "inappropriate".
"The ratchet straps were inappropriate for this use and the makeshift bulkhead was inadequate," he told the inquest. "Although the straps would prevent the base of the tank moving forward during this collision there is a lot of weight above that point.
"That tank was allowed to move."
Owner of the former company Harun Hussain, also gave evidence at the Middlesbrough hearing and said he believed the straps were safe and was not aware of any other methods used to secure the cylinders at the time. He said: "I wish at the time I knew how dangerous they could be.
"I never thought something like this would happen." When asked if he accepts the method for securing the cylinders was unsafe, he responded: "I thought with the straps that it was fixed in. It's the normal method".
Mr Hussain said he performed checks on the vehicle and showed employees how to secure the cylinders. He added that the straps are 'commonly used by window cleaners' and confirmed the company has now dissolved and he is unemployed.
Teesside Live reported on the crash at the time and how a 50-year-old man and 44-year-old woman in the Citroen were taken to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, with non-life threatening injuries. Following Mr Langstaff's death, tributes flooded social media and floral tributes were left at the scene.
A Gofundme raised nearly £2,700 for the Teessider's devastated family. The money went towards supporting his partner Christine and their three children - Sam, Poppy, and Isabelle.
The fundraiser, which was set up by family friend Lyndsey Smith, reads: "They are all heartbroken. Andrew had a smile that was infectious, everyone who met him said how down to earth he was. He would do anything for anyone. He lived for his children and his children adored everything about him. "
The inquest continues.
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