CoR enforcement and the death of an innocent man

We revisit the case of Geoffrey Candlin, killed in a hit-and-run collision with a B double in 2011. Some witnesses considered the fatigue of the driver to be a potential contributing factor. The driver was also discovered to have a history of non-compliance with his responsibilities. However, the roles of consignor, consignee and prime contractor received little consideration.

How did the incident occur?

At 4.55am on 29 March 2011, Mr Candlin was driving south on the Bruce Highway in Queensland when his van was hit by the second trailer of a Kenworth B double, being driven north by a man named Rodney Gordon. Mr Gordon was employed by McAlpine Freight Lines Pty Ltd.

Gordon's prime mover had veered left, off the road, and recovered only just in time for the prime mover and first trailer to avoid a 2.5 metre-deep grassed drain area. The second trailer entered the drain and hit its opposite bank before returning to the road, where its taillights struck the driver's