Warning to milk float boys following East Lancashire crash

10:04am Wednesday 23rd May 2012 in Barrowford

MILKMEN have been warned about allowing helpers to hang off the back of their floats after two boys were seriously hurt in a dawn crash.

Michael John Lamb, 39, was driving his van along Barrowford Road at 5.30am when his vehicle collided with an ambulance.

Three youngsters who had been clinging to the back of the Cab Star milk van were thrown from the vehicle.

Bradley Smith suffered a fractured wrist and was left with a piece of glass embedded in his leg, Burnley magistrates heard.

And Liam Smith was left with a large cut to the side of his head, and cuts and bruises over his legs and arms.

He was detained overnight in the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

The third boy, not named in court, escaped with minor injuries.

Lamb, of Wordsworth Avenue, Padiham, admitted using a motor vehicle when the purpose for which it was used involved danger of injury.

He was fined £180 with a £15 victim surcharge and £45 costs.

Magistrates also had three penalty points imposed on his driving licence.

Another charge of driving without due care and attention, which he had denied, was withdrawn.

In a letter to the court, his solicitors Steele, Ford and Newton said that normally he would have had his employees in the cab of his milk van.

But on the day in question, the brother of one of his workers had asked to come along. He wished to offer his ‘sincere apologies’ for the incident and pledged that nothing similar would happen again.

Sgt Gareth Hill, of Colne road traffic policing unit, said: “Common sense would dictate, for any prudent motorist, that the practice of having people hanging of the back of the vehicle is to be discouraged.”

But the sergeant also said that it appeared to be regarded as common practice within the industry.

Comments (11)

10:17am Wed 23 May 12

Izanears says...

No pun intended, but this was an accident waiting to happen.
The number of times I have seen youngsters hanging on the back of milk delivery vehicles beggers belief.
No pun intended, but this was an accident waiting to happen. The number of times I have seen youngsters hanging on the back of milk delivery vehicles beggers belief. Izanears

10:47am Wed 23 May 12

burner says...

. ." normally he would have had his employees in the cab of his milk van." . . . Oh come off it !!!! . . . actually, they DID !!
. ." normally he would have had his employees in the cab of his milk van." . . . Oh come off it !!!! . . . actually, they DID !! burner

10:52am Wed 23 May 12

QuizOnMyFace says...

No point crying over spilt milk...
No point crying over spilt milk... QuizOnMyFace

11:14am Wed 23 May 12

mavrick says...

I used to do this when I was a youngster earning a few bob. I used to look forward to being on the back of the float. I think we worry to much about these things.
It could have happened to me or a thousand others but we lived to tell the tale. These lads were unlucky. Many things we did as kids would be frowned on these molly coddling days.
I used to do this when I was a youngster earning a few bob. I used to look forward to being on the back of the float. I think we worry to much about these things. It could have happened to me or a thousand others but we lived to tell the tale. These lads were unlucky. Many things we did as kids would be frowned on these molly coddling days. mavrick

12:01pm Wed 23 May 12

happycyclist says...

mavrick wrote:
I used to do this when I was a youngster earning a few bob. I used to look forward to being on the back of the float. I think we worry to much about these things.
It could have happened to me or a thousand others but we lived to tell the tale. These lads were unlucky. Many things we did as kids would be frowned on these molly coddling days.
It's the only practical way of doing the job. The driver doesn't even need to stop on terraced streets; just slow down so that they can hop off the back, drop the milk off, pick up the empty, and jump back on.
[quote][p][bold]mavrick[/bold] wrote: I used to do this when I was a youngster earning a few bob. I used to look forward to being on the back of the float. I think we worry to much about these things. It could have happened to me or a thousand others but we lived to tell the tale. These lads were unlucky. Many things we did as kids would be frowned on these molly coddling days.[/p][/quote]It's the only practical way of doing the job. The driver doesn't even need to stop on terraced streets; just slow down so that they can hop off the back, drop the milk off, pick up the empty, and jump back on. happycyclist

12:26pm Wed 23 May 12

Pan-cake says...

mavrick wrote:
I used to do this when I was a youngster earning a few bob. I used to look forward to being on the back of the float. I think we worry to much about these things.
It could have happened to me or a thousand others but we lived to tell the tale. These lads were unlucky. Many things we did as kids would be frowned on these molly coddling days.
Mavrick and Happy Cyclist: Quite right.

It's comforting to find at least three of us are from the 'common sense' group of posters on here!
[quote][p][bold]mavrick[/bold] wrote: I used to do this when I was a youngster earning a few bob. I used to look forward to being on the back of the float. I think we worry to much about these things. It could have happened to me or a thousand others but we lived to tell the tale. These lads were unlucky. Many things we did as kids would be frowned on these molly coddling days.[/p][/quote]Mavrick and Happy Cyclist: Quite right. It's comforting to find at least three of us are from the 'common sense' group of posters on here! Pan-cake

1:15pm Wed 23 May 12

2 for 5p says...

I wonder if these milk men have got employee liability insurance.
And it makes you wonde what age these children are the LT has conveniantly left that bit out.
It dangerous now they have been warned hopefully the authoritys will come down on them like a ton of brinks if it happens again
I wonder if these milk men have got employee liability insurance. And it makes you wonde what age these children are the LT has conveniantly left that bit out. It dangerous now they have been warned hopefully the authoritys will come down on them like a ton of brinks if it happens again 2 for 5p

1:34pm Wed 23 May 12

Keep Darwen Green says...

Pan-cake wrote:
mavrick wrote:
I used to do this when I was a youngster earning a few bob. I used to look forward to being on the back of the float. I think we worry to much about these things.
It could have happened to me or a thousand others but we lived to tell the tale. These lads were unlucky. Many things we did as kids would be frowned on these molly coddling days.
Mavrick and Happy Cyclist: Quite right.

It's comforting to find at least three of us are from the 'common sense' group of posters on here!
Well all I can say is thank god someones taking notice. If you think taxi drivers drive badly say hello to the milkman, they must have brains removed before getting in the vehicle. Wrong side of the road, no problem, reversing towards oncoming traffic, oh its a doddle, double parking, mounting the kerb and the classic driving with no lights on, brilliant.
And here we have three bright lads who think its okay for your kids to hang off the back of a wagon jumping on and off when its moving, are you currently employed in any capacity? If not I have a few career path suggestions for you, walking in front of a steam roller checking for imperfections in the finish, gas bottle deliverer supplied with your own lighter to check for leaks. Golf ball collector at the driving range, and my personal favourite, emergency escape route tester for overhead cranes.
[quote][p][bold]Pan-cake[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]mavrick[/bold] wrote: I used to do this when I was a youngster earning a few bob. I used to look forward to being on the back of the float. I think we worry to much about these things. It could have happened to me or a thousand others but we lived to tell the tale. These lads were unlucky. Many things we did as kids would be frowned on these molly coddling days.[/p][/quote]Mavrick and Happy Cyclist: Quite right. It's comforting to find at least three of us are from the 'common sense' group of posters on here![/p][/quote]Well all I can say is thank god someones taking notice. If you think taxi drivers drive badly say hello to the milkman, they must have brains removed before getting in the vehicle. Wrong side of the road, no problem, reversing towards oncoming traffic, oh its a doddle, double parking, mounting the kerb and the classic driving with no lights on, brilliant. And here we have three bright lads who think its okay for your kids to hang off the back of a wagon jumping on and off when its moving, are you currently employed in any capacity? If not I have a few career path suggestions for you, walking in front of a steam roller checking for imperfections in the finish, gas bottle deliverer supplied with your own lighter to check for leaks. Golf ball collector at the driving range, and my personal favourite, emergency escape route tester for overhead cranes. Keep Darwen Green

4:48pm Wed 23 May 12

Izanears says...

Keep Darwen Green wrote:
Pan-cake wrote:
mavrick wrote:
I used to do this when I was a youngster earning a few bob. I used to look forward to being on the back of the float. I think we worry to much about these things.
It could have happened to me or a thousand others but we lived to tell the tale. These lads were unlucky. Many things we did as kids would be frowned on these molly coddling days.
Mavrick and Happy Cyclist: Quite right.

It's comforting to find at least three of us are from the 'common sense' group of posters on here!
Well all I can say is thank god someones taking notice. If you think taxi drivers drive badly say hello to the milkman, they must have brains removed before getting in the vehicle. Wrong side of the road, no problem, reversing towards oncoming traffic, oh its a doddle, double parking, mounting the kerb and the classic driving with no lights on, brilliant.
And here we have three bright lads who think its okay for your kids to hang off the back of a wagon jumping on and off when its moving, are you currently employed in any capacity? If not I have a few career path suggestions for you, walking in front of a steam roller checking for imperfections in the finish, gas bottle deliverer supplied with your own lighter to check for leaks. Golf ball collector at the driving range, and my personal favourite, emergency escape route tester for overhead cranes.
How about mid air refueling in a helicopter?????
[quote][p][bold]Keep Darwen Green[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Pan-cake[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]mavrick[/bold] wrote: I used to do this when I was a youngster earning a few bob. I used to look forward to being on the back of the float. I think we worry to much about these things. It could have happened to me or a thousand others but we lived to tell the tale. These lads were unlucky. Many things we did as kids would be frowned on these molly coddling days.[/p][/quote]Mavrick and Happy Cyclist: Quite right. It's comforting to find at least three of us are from the 'common sense' group of posters on here![/p][/quote]Well all I can say is thank god someones taking notice. If you think taxi drivers drive badly say hello to the milkman, they must have brains removed before getting in the vehicle. Wrong side of the road, no problem, reversing towards oncoming traffic, oh its a doddle, double parking, mounting the kerb and the classic driving with no lights on, brilliant. And here we have three bright lads who think its okay for your kids to hang off the back of a wagon jumping on and off when its moving, are you currently employed in any capacity? If not I have a few career path suggestions for you, walking in front of a steam roller checking for imperfections in the finish, gas bottle deliverer supplied with your own lighter to check for leaks. Golf ball collector at the driving range, and my personal favourite, emergency escape route tester for overhead cranes.[/p][/quote]How about mid air refueling in a helicopter????? Izanears

5:12pm Wed 23 May 12

2 for 5p says...

By the way milk is much cheaper at the super market :-) ;) :.)
By the way milk is much cheaper at the super market :-) ;) :.) 2 for 5p

5:22pm Thu 24 May 12

Tell-it-how-it-is says...

Bloody crazy asian drivers..oh hang on..
Bloody crazy asian drivers..oh hang on.. Tell-it-how-it-is

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