A semi-retired bus driver who lost his life after being crushed under the weight of a bus he was working on failed to implement a key “simple measure” to stop the bus from moving, a coroner has revealed.
Raymond Henry Millington, 71, passed away in his home workshop in Bagdad on September 2, 2021, while working on a bus owned by his business, Millington Coaches.
In her findings, Coroner Olivia McTaggart acknowledged that while Millington was “not a trained mechanic”, he had a lifetime of experience working on engines and was “actively involved” in the routine inspection, mechanical maintenance and upkeep of his fleet.
On the day of the incident, Millington was attempting to fix a gearbox issue with his 2006 Hyundai New Cosmos bus when he mistakenly disengaged the vehicle’s handbrake while beneath it.
“I find that Mr Millington activated the park brake prior to working under the bus,” McTaggart said.
“However, at the point when Mr Millington removed the tail shaft from the rear of the bus, the park brake mechanism disengaged from the rear wheels of the vehicle, allowing the wheels to rotate freely.”
“Upon the park brake disengaging, the bus rolled a small distance towards the workshop crushing Mr Millington between the undercarriage of the bus and the ground.”
“In such a position, he was unable to breathe and, sadly, died.”
McTaggart determined that Millington’s failure to secure the wheels of the bus before commencing work was the primary cause of his tragic death.
“This was particularly poor practice in light of the fact that he intended to remove the tail shaft, which would render the park brake non-operational,” she said.
“Further, the bus was situated on a slight downward, uneven slope towards the workshop which likely contributed to it rolling forward and crushing Mr Millington.”
The coroner also noted that there was “insufficient space” between the ground and the undercarriage of the bus for Millington to safely work and move.
“Mr Millington died at his ‘workplace’ of unnatural causes … [his] death highlights the danger of performing mechanical maintenance underneath vehicles that have not been properly stabilised or chocked,” McTaggart said.
“It also highlights that caution should be exercised before deciding to work underneath vehicles where the work is not safely within the competency of the person intending to perform it.”
“I convey my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr Millington.”
