‘Panicking’ mum-of-four who was left stranded on M60 when Green Flag refused to rescue her hit and killed by truck
A "PANICKING" mum who was stranded on the M60 when Green Flag refused to rescue her was hit and killed by a truck just minutes after calling for help.
Shirley-Ann Dumbuya, 38, had broken down near junction 20 of the motorway and couldn't move her car from the hatch marked area separating lane one from the slip road.
And tragically, the mum from Moston, Greater Manchester, was killed when lorry driver John Bowers failed to notice her stationary Kia Ceed - hitting and killing the mum as she sat inside the car.
The judge has now slammed Green Flag for not helping Shirley-Ann, saying: “Green Flag should take it upon themselves to ring 999 to help the person who was obviously panicking, wondering whether to stay or get out of the vehicle, and worrying about the other cars on the motorway.
"This was an accident waiting to happen."
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The court heard the mum had called her husband panicking - putting her hazard lights on as she was "trapped" inside her Kia Ceed.
Husband Peniel Dumbuya then called breakdown cover Green Flag who told him assistance could not be offered "unless the vehicle was on the hard shoulder or off the motorway".
Before he could call his wife back again, a skip lorry collided with the little silver car.
Unaware of the tragedy, Peniel decided to try and find Shirley-Ann on her usual route - but as he neared junction 20 he knew something was wrong.
Her silver car was on the grass verge and emergency vehicles surrounded the scene.
Despite the paramedics' best efforts to cut Shirley-Ann from the vehicle and treat her injuries, she could sadly not be saved.
Sentencing the truck driver at Manchester Crown Court yesterday, a judge slammed Green Flag for their negligence in Shirley-Ann's death.
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Judge Anthony Cross QC called for an enquiry by the Assistant Chief Constable in Greater Manchester to look into what should happen if the situation arises again.
Green Flag's only mentions the hard shoulder twice.
In the event of a breakdown on a motorway, the booklet advises drivers to leave the carriageway, pull into a service area, emergency area, or onto a hard shoulder.
If these options are not possible, Green Flag advises motorists to remain in their vehicle, keep their seatbelts on, put their hazard lights on, and call 999 immediately.
Shirley-Ann had stayed in her vehicle with her hazard lights on.
As well as being a loving mother and wife, she was also a nursing student at the University of Bolton and had been commuting there at the time of the crash.
Judge Cross added: “It’s obvious to me that whilst society has lost someone who not only was going to make a valuable contribution, but someone who had already done so by just being a good person.”
Shirley-Ann left behind three daughters and a son, aged between five and seventeen, as well as her husband.
Her daughter Alice said the family's lives have been "shattered forever" by the collision.
She said her mother was "very family orientated" and "loved by so many people".
Miss Dumbaya said: “You never think it will happen until it happens to you. I lost my best friend.
“My mother will never see her children grow up, children get married and have grandchildren. She was so looking forward to that as she spoke about this.
"The milestones in our lives will never be the same without my mum being there to appreciate it, this will sadden me forever.”
Skip truck driver Bowers was handed a suspended prison sentence at Manchester Crown Court yesterday after eventually pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving.
Bowers was said to be travelling at 55mph and had an unobstructed view of the Kia for about 150 to 175 metres.
A joint expert report included the comment that his "error" was that he did not appreciate that the Kia Ceed was stationary.
The prosecutor said the fact that the car was stationary was "clearly evident" to 19 other drivers who had manoeuvred around it before Bowers.
He was not using his phone at the time, nor was he under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and he was driving at 15 miles under the speed limit.
A Green Flag spokesperson commented: “Green Flag was very sorry to hear of this tragic accident.
"We were not part of the court proceedings but will be reviewing how we handled this case.
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"If a customer contacts us to say their car has broken down on the live lane of a motorway it is our policy, which follows National Highways guidance, that the call handler asks them to immediately call 999 for emergency assistance so the police can offer specific health and safety guidance to the driver directly.
"Green Flag contacts National Highways so the motorway can be closed to enable recovery of the vehicle.”
