No issues detected on petrol tanker trailer before triple-fatal crash: mechanic
TRAGEDY: A tribute left at the scene.
TRAGEDY: The scene of the crash in August 2014
LOSS: Gerry Turner travelled from Tweed Heads for Wednesday's court case. He lost his daughter, Lisa, and grandson, Jack, in the fatal car crash at Staghorn Flat in 2014.
BP staff told a mechanic not to undertake any more work than requested on a truck and tanker trailer days before the tanker detached, killing three people, a court has heard.
Heavy Mechanics Pty Ltd has been charged by WorkSafe following the deaths at Staghorn Flat on August 7, 2014.
The Wodonga Magistrates Court on Wednesday heard the business received a job request from the petrol company for work.
The job was completed six days before the triple fatality.
Heavy Mechanics owner Keith Haire gave evidence on Wednesday.
The court heard BP sent an email to his company stating “NO extra work” was to be completed by the business, except for what was requested.
It did not include pulling a nut and other components apart for examination.
It argues the business should have used a torque wrench to tighten a nut to a certain level, and that the tow eye coupling failed and led to the tanker detaching.
Mr Haire said there was nothing to indicate any issues with the coupling and the nut had never been loose, with no issues found in tests.
“We never seen it loose. We never seen it move,” he said.
Magistrate Ian Watkins inspected the nut and other components in court.
The petrol company had asked drivers to conduct daily tug tests, the court heard, where the truck is driven back and forth to test movement.
David Padfield, who conducted tests on the components after the crash, said that could cause more wear to components.
“I wouldn’t recommend it, no,” he said.
He described the fault as a “progressive failure, not a short term event”.
Prosecutor Andrew Palmer said it was a straightforward argument from WorkSafe.
“The prosecution case is a fairly simple one,” he said.
“The servicing was inadequate.”
The case, which will decide if there is enough evidence for Heavy Mechanics to stand trial, will return to court on Thursday with two further witnesses.
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