A father is devastated after accidentally running over his three-year-old son. He claims the tragic incident was a result of a brief moment of human error that changed his life forever
Bury: A dad is heartbroken after a terrible accident on his farm. Neil Speakman, 39, accidentally ran over his three-year-old son, Albie, with a telehandler.
This tragic event happened on July 16, 2022. Albie suffered severe head injuries and sadly passed away. Neil described it as a “tragic accident” that has ruined his life.
During the trial, Neil said he left Albie playing with their dogs. He thought he was being careful, but the telehandler had a missing wing mirror. He checked for blind spots but didn’t see his son.
He recalled feeling a bump and immediately stopped. Neil was emotional as he explained how he never intended to hurt Albie. He admitted he made a mistake and wished he had done things differently.
The prosecution claims Neil was negligent, saying he should have kept Albie away from moving vehicles. Neil agreed he had that responsibility but insisted he checked thoroughly.
He explained that it was a hot day, and Albie wanted to play outside. Neil felt his son understood the dangers but admitted he shouldn’t have left him in the garden.
He emphasized that it was just a moment of human error that changed everything. Neil said he had seen Albie playing just moments before the accident.
The court also heard about a warning from the Health and Safety Executive regarding farm machinery. Neil denied receiving any warning letters, citing issues with missing mail.
He has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge related to health and safety but denies gross negligence manslaughter. This heartbreaking case continues to unfold.
