Tribute to lorry driver killed by block

Jul 30 2007 By Nick Mccarthy, Birmingham Mail

A ROAD haulage boss today paid tribute to a tragic Birmingham lorry driver who was killed by a concrete block which was thrown from an overhead bridge.

Pensioner Laurence McCourt, from Handsworth, died after the incident near Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.

The tragedy happened at 4.15am on the A45 early on Friday morning.

No-one from Mr McCourt's family could be contacted for comment, but senior area manager for the North-amptonshire branch of the Road Haulage Association, Pete Butler, said: "My condolences go out to the driver's family and friends.

"It's a sign of the times, things like this happening. There is nothing you can do about something like this.

"If drivers travelled down the road worrying about these things, they wouldn't be able to do their job."

Mr McCourt, aged 67, was report-edly working for the BRS road haulage firm and was transporting an overnight delivery of Walls ice cream and BirdsEye products.

Two youths, aged 14 and 15, have been arrested and bailed by Northamptonshire Police over the crash. A third, aged 16, was released without charge.

A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said a murder investigation was continuing.