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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| BBC blames tyre for Hammond crash | BBC blames tyre for Hammond crash |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A damaged tyre caused the crash that almost killed Top Gear host Richard Hammond last year, the BBC has said. | A damaged tyre caused the crash that almost killed Top Gear host Richard Hammond last year, the BBC has said. |
| The "catastrophic disintegration" of the jet car's front tyre was probably caused by an object like a nail, a BBC report has concluded. | The "catastrophic disintegration" of the jet car's front tyre was probably caused by an object like a nail, a BBC report has concluded. |
| The 88-page document criticised the Top Gear team for not having anyone present "with sufficient knowledge to assess the adequacy" of the safety checks. | The 88-page document criticised the Top Gear team for not having anyone present "with sufficient knowledge to assess the adequacy" of the safety checks. |
| Hammond crashed while driving at speeds up to 288mph at an airfield near York. | Hammond crashed while driving at speeds up to 288mph at an airfield near York. |
| According to the report, the underlying cause of the incident was "the inability to spot the damage to the tyre". | According to the report, the underlying cause of the incident was "the inability to spot the damage to the tyre". |
| Safety checks on the day were made by PrimeTime Land Speed Engineering (PLE), the company that provided the Vampire jet car Hammond was driving. | Safety checks on the day were made by PrimeTime Land Speed Engineering (PLE), the company that provided the Vampire jet car Hammond was driving. |
| Hammond suffered brain injuries and was airlifted to hospitalBut the evidence "is inconclusive whether the safety checks, especially tyre checks, were being conducted to an appropriate standard", the report decided. | Hammond suffered brain injuries and was airlifted to hospitalBut the evidence "is inconclusive whether the safety checks, especially tyre checks, were being conducted to an appropriate standard", the report decided. |
| PLE has previously said all its cars were "designed, built, maintained and constantly updated to embrace or exceed all current standards" regarding safety. | |
| The BBC report concludes that, where experts are given "prime responsibility" over safety issues, "there is a need to ensure the BBC has selected competent persons". | |
| It recommends a series of measures to improve risk management in programmes involving "high risk activities". | It recommends a series of measures to improve risk management in programmes involving "high risk activities". |
| The Health and Safety Executive published its report on the crash in June. | The Health and Safety Executive published its report on the crash in June. |
| It spotted failings in "risk assessment and the procurement of services from others" but identified safety precautions in place that "almost certainly saved Mr Hammond's life". | It spotted failings in "risk assessment and the procurement of services from others" but identified safety precautions in place that "almost certainly saved Mr Hammond's life". |
| After that report was published, PLE issued a statement defending its safety record. | |
| Good practice | Good practice |
| "The team's reputation for putting safety first is well known in drag racing, airshow and speed record breaking circles," it said. | |
| The Vampire's tyres, it added, had been bought new not long before the crash. | |
| The Top Gear team are praised elsewhere in the BBC report for areas of good practice. | The Top Gear team are praised elsewhere in the BBC report for areas of good practice. |
| These include a decision made by executive producer Andy Wilman to drop initial plans to attempt a land speed record. | These include a decision made by executive producer Andy Wilman to drop initial plans to attempt a land speed record. |
| It also said emergency services were at the scene of the crash "within seconds". | It also said emergency services were at the scene of the crash "within seconds". |
| Hammond crashed on 20 September at Elvington Airfield while making his seventh run of the day in the jet-powered dragster. | Hammond crashed on 20 September at Elvington Airfield while making his seventh run of the day in the jet-powered dragster. |
| He was airlifted to hospital and treated for swelling to the brain and bruising, but eventually made a complete recovery. | He was airlifted to hospital and treated for swelling to the brain and bruising, but eventually made a complete recovery. |