Jurong trailer driver overcame by sedative drugs

[Apollo]

Delivery driver crushed by iron rods was on drugs By Elena Chong, Court Correspondent A DELIVERY driver who was killed in September took sedatives and a drug for heroin addicts before he was crushed to death, a coroner's inquiry heard on Tuesday.

Traces of the drugs were found in the blood of Mr Mohd Ghazali Masoothu, 37, and were likely behind the accident that claimed his life on Sept 14, said a forensic pathologist.

Mr Ghazali died when a bushel of metal rods, stored in the back of his truck, came loose and crushed the driver's cabin after he slammed on the brakes.

He was hauling almost 200 metal rods, tied down with green straps, when the accident happened along Lok Yang Way.

At the inquiry into his death, an investigation report by Station Inspector Kenny Chua said that Mr Ghazali hit the emergency brake of his trailer to avoid traffic ahead.

The metal rods surged forward and crashed into the front cabin, trapping him.

He died on the spot of multiple injuries more than an hour later.

Forensic pathologist Dr Wee Keng Poh said Mr Ghazali's consumption of the sedative midazolam and Subutex, a drug designed to wean addicts of heroin, could have caused the accident.

He said Mr Ghazali was a drug addict and no doctor would prescribe the two drugs together because they can cause respiratory problems.

Station Insp Chua said investigations suggested that Mr Ghazali lost control of the trailer in the moments before the accident.

The driver's employer had warned him not to travel by that route because of the danger posed by motorcycles along the road.

State Coroner Ronald Gwee recorded a verdict of misadventure in the death.

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/...ory_188112.html

 

amen...

[Elfenstar]

"brilliant" except that the rods still should have been secured properly which means the company should have been fined and the person who secured them should be partially accountable (since most that should lie in the driver)

[Turbonetics]

omg,does it mean he deserve it?

[Apollo]

dunno wat to say lor.. a life is lost.

[Route88]

[Turbonetics]

at least his "high" did not take other's lives.

[Sosaria]

They just conveniently lay blame on the driver (who cannot defend himself now) while the company bears no responsibility? His employer now also claims of having "warned him not to travel by that route" - brilliant, except the deceased can't dispute this claim now...

 

I wonder if there's any mandatory guidelines on securing heavy cargo to transport vehicles? For cargo carried on aircraft, there are very strict regulations on the number and strength of the restraints and straps required depending on the cargo weight.