A father of three was left with severe brain damage after a 5kg steel plate fell from a lorry and crashed through his vehicle's windscreen on the M6. Anthony Moore, 51, was struck by the plate, causing his car to collide with the lorry and be dragged for nearly a mile before the driver stopped.
The lorry driver was prosecuted for driving with an unsecured load and received a £100 fine and three penalty points. This penalty, Moore stated, was "an insult to every road user" and did not reflect the "devastation" his life has endured.
Moore, who was on his way home from work when the incident occurred in September 2023, suffered a traumatic brain injury, skull and facial fractures, and significant soft tissue damage. He has lost his career as a senior manager for an events specialist, his independence, and his health. His wife, Rachel, has had to give up her job to provide full-time care.
"My life has been destroyed because somebody failed to do one basic thing – secure a load properly," Moore said. "I'm lost for words at just how minimal the consequences have been for those involved in causing this near-death incident."
After his initial hospital stay, Moore developed severe paranoid delusions due to his brain injury. The family secured funding for intensive neurorehabilitation, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and support workers, while also pursuing a legal claim against the driver's employer and parent company. They won a six-figure out-of-court settlement.
Moore described his current state: "I miss the old me. I loved my job, I loved my team and my customers. I loved being the dad who fixed things, took the kids out and looked after everyone. Now I'm not even able to drive. Now I get confused. My concentration disappears and the fatigue is overwhelming."
His wife recounted the immediate aftermath, describing her husband's appearance in the hospital as "horrific" with "massive swelling" and "blood everywhere." She also detailed the challenges of his recovery, including disorientation, heightened sensitivity to light and noise, and difficulty with basic tasks.
A spokesman for Staffordshire Police confirmed the driver received points and a fine, and that the Health and Safety Executive was informed, though no further action was taken by them as the incident occurred on a road rather than business premises. Moore expressed hope that his case would prompt companies to take load security more seriously.
