Death Tipper Truck Driver Had Taken Cocaine

Cocaine: McArdle 

The driver of a 32 tonne tipper truck, involved in a fatality with a pensioner after taking cocaine, has been cleared of causing death by careless driving.

Anthony McArdle, 54, collided with Sushilaben Patel, aged in her eighties, in Lewisham Road, Hither Green, on October 9, 2015.

She died two days later.

McArdle, of Newham Way, Canning Town was charged with causing death by careless driving and cleared last Friday at Woolwich Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to driving with cocaine in his bloodstream, namely 200mg per one litre of blood, and was fined £250, with £25 costs and disqualified from driving for one year.

The prosecution argued a contributory factor to the 9.20am accident was a misaligned mirror on the truck, which restricted McArdle’s view.

He was arrested at the scene of the collision, near the junction with Friendly Place, while Mrs Patel was being rushed in critical condition to a local hospital.

Early reports suggested the incident occurred as the truck pulled away from traffic lights.