Inquiry finds fatal crash lorry driver fell asleep

A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) has concluded a German lorry driver who died when his vehicle overturned in southern Scotland probably fell asleep at the wheel.

Thomas Hein, 25, was killed in a crash on the A74(M) motorway near Moffat on 14 July 2023 after his vehicle left the road.

Sheriff Colm Dempsey said the cause of the accident had "inevitably to be a matter of inference".

The inquiry found there were no precautions which could have avoided the accident nor any defects in working systems which had contributed to it.

The FAI was held at Dumfries Sheriff Court earlier this year.

At the time of the accident, Mr Hein was employed by the company Josef Schnell as a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) driver.

The inquiry heard that he had been driving as part of a convoy from Hull towards Perth when the accident happened.

His lorry failed to negotiate a right hand bend and left the carriageway over a grass verge onto an embankment and overturned.

Emergency services were called but Mr Hein was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Tachograph analysis showed he had observed rest periods and had not exceeded permitted driving times.

There was no evidence of mechanical failure or any evasive action such as emergency braking or steering.

Blood and urine analyses also found no trace of drugs or alcohol in his system.

The inquiry said Mr Hein was a "hard working and experienced professional driver" who was "much loved by his family and friends".

Sheriff Colm said: "On the available evidence, the conclusion which I have reached, is that Mr Hein fell asleep at the wheel.

"His vehicle thereafter failed to negotiate a slight right hand bend and left the carriageway before overturning."

He concluded by expressing his condolences to Mr Hein's family and friends.