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Action urged after motorway death | Action urged after motorway death |
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A coroner has vowed to lobby the government to reduce the number of road deaths caused by a sleeping disorder. | A coroner has vowed to lobby the government to reduce the number of road deaths caused by a sleeping disorder. |
Merseyside Coroner Christopher Sumner announced his intention while passing a verdict of accidental death at the inquest of Toby Tweddell. | Merseyside Coroner Christopher Sumner announced his intention while passing a verdict of accidental death at the inquest of Toby Tweddell. |
Mr Tweddell, 25, from Sale, Greater Manchester, was killed when a lorry driver ploughed into a queue of traffic on the M62 in Merseyside in 2006. | Mr Tweddell, 25, from Sale, Greater Manchester, was killed when a lorry driver ploughed into a queue of traffic on the M62 in Merseyside in 2006. |
Lorry driver Colin Wrighton had been suffering obstructive sleep apnoea. | Lorry driver Colin Wrighton had been suffering obstructive sleep apnoea. |
The 54-year-old's condition had yet to be diagnosed but he had complained to his doctor about feeling tired four months before the accident. | The 54-year-old's condition had yet to be diagnosed but he had complained to his doctor about feeling tired four months before the accident. |
Tests had been run for diabetes, which came back negative. | Tests had been run for diabetes, which came back negative. |
'Reduce deaths' | 'Reduce deaths' |
It was not until after the crash, at the Rocket Interchange on 8 August 2006, that obstructive sleep apnoea was first considered. | It was not until after the crash, at the Rocket Interchange on 8 August 2006, that obstructive sleep apnoea was first considered. |
The condition causes the upper airways to repeatedly close during sleep, and sufferers constantly wake up to breathe, leaving them tired the next day. | The condition causes the upper airways to repeatedly close during sleep, and sufferers constantly wake up to breathe, leaving them tired the next day. |
Mr Wrighton was initially charged with causing death by dangerous driving, but the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence against him after his sleeping condition was revealed. | Mr Wrighton was initially charged with causing death by dangerous driving, but the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence against him after his sleeping condition was revealed. |
In giving his narrative verdict, which was released as a statement, the coroner said: "It is my intention to prepare a Rule 43 Report to the Lord Chancellor concerning obstructive sleep apnoea in an endeavour to reduce the number of deaths that arise annually from this condition." | In giving his narrative verdict, which was released as a statement, the coroner said: "It is my intention to prepare a Rule 43 Report to the Lord Chancellor concerning obstructive sleep apnoea in an endeavour to reduce the number of deaths that arise annually from this condition." |
Mr Tweddell's parents, Nic and Monica, want compulsory screening of sleep apnoea introduced for all professional drivers, claiming that more than 80% of sufferers could be undiagnosed. | Mr Tweddell's parents, Nic and Monica, want compulsory screening of sleep apnoea introduced for all professional drivers, claiming that more than 80% of sufferers could be undiagnosed. |
In a statement, they said: "We are pleased that the coroner will be alerting the government to the dangers of sleep apnoea, and we look forward to seeing the details of his report. | In a statement, they said: "We are pleased that the coroner will be alerting the government to the dangers of sleep apnoea, and we look forward to seeing the details of his report. |
"We will be working hard in the coming months to ensure that the coroner's recommendations are acted on by government." | "We will be working hard in the coming months to ensure that the coroner's recommendations are acted on by government." |