Tipper Truck Driver Accused Of Cocaine Pedestrian Death

A lorry driver accused of killing an elderly female pedestrian while under the influence of cocaine has appeared in court for the first time.

Anthony McArdle, 53, of Newham Way, Canning Town was driving a 32 tonne tipper truck, which struck Sushilaben Patel at 9.20am in Lewisham Road, Lewisham on October 9, last year.

She died two days later.

McArdle appeared at Bromley Magistrates Court and was bailed to appear at Woolwich Crown Court on June 2.

A condition of his bail is that he does not drive any vehicle on a public road.

He is charged with causing the death of Mrs Patel by careless driving and driving with a proportion of a controlled drug, namely cocaine, over the specified blood limit.

The prosecution also say a mirror on his tipper truck was misaligned, which restricted his view.