Fatal trucker did not 'belt up'

A lorry driver who died when storms blew his truck over on the M6 may have survived if he had been wearing a seatbelt, an inquest has heard.

Richard Young, 45, of Stirling, was thrown from his cab when his vehicle blew onto its side heading north near Tebay, Cumbria, on 31 January.

South Lakeland coroner Ian Smith said it was "quite likely" he would have survived if he had been strapped in.

Mr Smith recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Mr Young, of Baxter Road, Fallin, was pronounced dead at the scene of the early morning crash.

The court heard how five or six other vehicles had blown over on the motorway that day and police had recorded winds of up to 67mph.

PC Gerard Doran, of Cumbria Police, told the court that an examination of Mr Young's seatbelt had revealed no evidence of it having been worn in the crash.

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