Devon farm fined £60,000 over death of tipper truck driver
Date of alert:
Monday, 21 August 2023
Crime Ref:
Force:
Devon & Cornwall Police
A farm in Devon has been fined £60,000 after a tipper truck driver died when he was electrocuted on its land.
Paddy Rice was killed as he got out of his truck after it touched an overhead 11,000-volt power line at the farm, Exeter Magistrates' Court heard.
At the time in May 2021, the father of three was delivering stone to VB Farms' Spreyton estate.
VB Farms, which denied breaching health and safety laws, was found guilty by a district judge after a one-day trial.
Mr Rice was described by his family as a "kind, hard working man who is dreadfully missed" and he had been a "very experienced sensible driver".
Judge Stuart Smith said the farm had not considered a risk assessment, which could have saved him from the "tragic and devastating" incident.
He also said it was open to misinterpretation which side should be used of a log pile where Mr Rice had been told to put the stones.
