Directors should never underestimate their role in the chain of responsibility or they too could face the same fate as an Adelaide trucking company boss who is in jail over manslaughter charges relating to the death of one of the drivers in his employ.
The director was jailed for a minimum of seven and a half years for failing to repair faulty brakes on a truck which led to a crash that claimed the life of the truck’s driver.
The director is appealing his sentence, which he called too harsh. He wants his ailing health to be taken into account as well.
His lawyer called the sentence manifestly excessive.
The crash happened in 2014 when the truck slammed into a pole in suburban Happy Valley as the driver was attempting to brake. He was veering away from oncoming cars while desperately pumping the failed brakes.
The director was responsible for maintaining the fleet of vehicles and was repeatedly warned about the faulty brakes prior to the incident yet failed to act. One driver had a near miss prior to the fatal crash.
The driver was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison for manslaughter and endangering the life of another driver.
