The wife of a man who died in a serious crash on the M1 said she 'knew something was wrong' when her husband failed to return her call. An inquest into the deaths of self-employed Harris Gondwe, 38, and Jack Steer, 52, is taking place after they both died at the scene of the collision in Nottinghamshire on January 20 this year.
A heartfelt statement was read out on behalf of the wife of Jack Steer, Wendy Steer, on Tuesday (December 6) at Nottingham Council House. Mr Steer was described as a "generous and kind" person, who would do "anything for anybody".
Recollecting the tragic day her beloved husband died, Ms Steer said in her statement that she told him "I love you" before he headed out to work. Mr Steer was referred to as "Andrew" over the name "Jack", which he had preferred.
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Ms Steer said she had called her husband on the day of the incident, and he failed to call her back. "At 6, I knew something was wrong," she added.
When police came to inform her of Mr Steer's death, she said "do not dare tell me that he is dead". She included in her statement that she wants answers to her questions.
Senior coroner Mairin Casey said Mr Steer was 52 years old at the time of his death on January 20. He was a married man, who worked as a delivery driver for Daily Fresh and lived in Bradford.
A post-mortem examination found that Mr Steer had suffered "various traumatic injuries" as a result of the multi-vehicle crash, which closed the southbound carriageway for most of the day between junction 26 for the A610 (Nottingham / Eastwood) and junction 25 for the A52 Brian Clough Way (Nottingham / Derby). A toxicology report found a number of medical substances in Mr Steer's system at the time of his death, including codeine, Ibuprofen, tramadol and paracetamol.
The hearing was told that he was prescribed these painkillers as he was suffering from 'severe backpain'. In her statement, Ms Steer said her husband had significant problems with his back, and his "blood pressure was high".
She said she would have noticed if he ever showed side effects from his medication, which he did not "to my knowledge". In the statement, Ms Steer added: "Andrew kept everyone happy. He put me and the children before him."
The family of the second man, Harris Gondwe, did not attend the inquest. Mr Gondwe's sister Eliza Mtete identified him at the time of his death.
A statement on her behalf was read out during the hearing, which described his move to the UK from his homeland, Malawi. He was working as a delivery driver for Seasons Express, a small company providing courier service.
"I wanted him to stop as it was found out that he was mistreated," the statement read. The hearing was told that an investigation was launched by Nottinghamshire Police following claims that Mr Gondwe was working 'long hours'. "I do not [know] why he kept working for them," his sister said in the statement.
Obrien Mfune, who owns the delivery company, said he met Mr Gondwe through a friend. He said he was one of the delivery drivers that he could rely on.
In a statement read out, the owner said that he asked Mr Gondwe on several occasions to present his driving licence, but failed to do so. He added that all the drivers that he worked with pick the courier jobs they want to do, and so they are 'their own boss'.
Several witnesses attended the inquest in court including officers from Nottinghamshire Police and representatives from National Highways. At the time of the incident, work was being carried out by the National Highways between junctions 25 and 26.
Traffic was stopped on the M1 southbound, including an articulated lorry in lane one, and other lorries. Mr Steer's vehicle collided with the rear of the articulated lorry and, a short time after, Mr Gondwe's vehicle collided into Mr Steer's vehicle.
Ian Faulkner, an experienced lorry driver, also gave his account during the hearing. He stated that he did not see any signs on the matrix board that could warn drivers of the work that was being carried out.
He was alerted, however, by the hazards lights of a vehicle in front of him. He described the 'standing traffic' on the M1, and then said: "I heard an impact and then another impact shortly after."
Asked by the coroner if he has experience in driving on smart motorways, he went on to add: "I do not think they are the safest motorways in the country."
Barrister Jonathan Metzer, representing National Highways, told the inquest there was a hard shoulder at the site at the time of the incident.
The hearing has been adjourned and will resume for conclusion on Wednesday, December 7.
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