Coroner to lobby Government after man died in smash with lorry driver who had undiagnosed sleep condition

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Toby Tweddell, 25, died when the driver of a lorry fell asleep at the wheel and ploughed into a line of stationary traffic.

Mr Tweddell's Nissan Micra was crushed and nine other cars wrecked in the rush-hour accident on the M62 in Merseyside.

Toby Tweddell with fiancee Jenny Crisp on holiday in Australia: He was killed when a lorry crashed into his Nissan Micra

Lorry driver Colin Wrighton, 54, was initially charged with causing death by dangerous driving after it emerged he had fallen asleep.

But the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence against him when it was discovered that he suffered from undiagnosed sleep apnoea.

At least half a million Britons have the condition which causes the upper airways
to close repeatedly during sleep causing sufferers to wake up constantly to breathe, often leaving them tired and disorientated the next day.

At an inquest into the death yesterday, Merseyside Coroner Christopher Sumner said: 'It is my intention to prepare a report to the Lord Chancellor concerning obstructive sleep apnoea in an endeavour to reduce the number of deaths that arise annually from this condition.'

Mr Tweddell's parents Nic, 65, and Monica, 60, have called for the compulsory screening of sleep apnoea for all professional drivers and believe four out of five sufferers may not know they have the condition.

Their son, a website designer from Sale, Greater Manchester, who was engaged to be married and was once a winning contestant on The Weakest Link, died in August 2006.

Mr Wrighton had complained to his doctor about feeling tired four months before the accident and tests were run for diabetes which came back negative.

It was not until after the crash that obstructive sleep apnoea was first considered and then diagnosed.

Mr Wrighton told the inquest in St Helens: 'I was feeling all right then I started feeling faint and fuzzy. I started to feel a bit funny and I don't remember much after that.'

Mr Sumner recorded an accident verdict in a two-page document released yesterday.