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West Midlands PC Widow Awarded GBP285,000 compensation
8 December 2008
The widow of a West Midlands police officer killed whilst working on an undercover drugs operation was yesterday awarded £285,000 compensation. Claire Hunt, 31, of Cheslyn Hay near Walsall, had been pursuing the case since the accident in May 2006. The insurers of the lorry driver had denied liability throughout.
PC Ryan Hunt, aged 31, died when hit by a lorry after completing the undercover test purchase of Class A drugs in a cemetery in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. As PC Hunt crossed the road, a lorry made a left turn, colliding with him and dragging him under the wheels of the vehicle, where he died.
“I am pleased that the insurers of the lorry driver settled the case at court. Obtaining financial compensation was always secondary to proving Ryan died because of someone else’s fault. I never accepted he was responsible for the accident. He was too professional for that. Obviously nothing can bring him back but he will live on in the memories of everyone who knew him and loved him. My husband’s brave work resulted in the conviction of a number of individuals for serious drug offences, and his undercover work had resulted in many awards. I will always be proud of him” says Claire Hunt.
“Sadly accidents involving lorries turning left are not uncommon – particularly for collisions with cyclists and pedestrians. Lorry drivers are aware of their substantial blind spot when making left turns and have a duty of care to ensure they are especially vigilant when making this manoeuvre. If they drive without due care and attention they are responsible for any ensuing accidents and must accept liability,” says Richard Langton, of Russell Jones and Walker, the solicitor representing Claire Hunt.
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