A doctor who was awarded his doctorate posthumously died after crashing into an unlit tractor travelling at less than 25mph on a 70mph road. His family is now campaigning for mandatory MOTs for tractors.
Steven Lee, 26, was travelling from his family's home in Runcorn to Swansea on August 11, 2022. He was riding along the A40 near Ganarew, Ross on Wye in Hertfordshire, at around 9.50pm when he crashed into the back of Philip Baker's tractor and trailer. A court hearing in September this year heard how Baker, 61, had been drawing straw from a field and was travelling from Walford in the direction of Monmouth.
Police find multiple defects
West Mercia Police attended the scene and arrested Baker before its serious collision unit found the tractor and trailer had several defects, including the lack of an amber beacon which should be in place to alert other road users to the potential hazard of its presence and slower speed. Officers found this to be the main factor for the collision as Steven had no warning as he approached it on his motorbike at a normal speed.
It was also found that both the tractor and trailer were in poor condition and overloaded with straw bales. The brakes on the trailer did not work and were not connected to the tractor cab. The police force also found the hydraulic line between the two was poorly maintained and the lights cable was held on by baler twine. The lack of warning light, which was verified by eye witnesses, led to the collision between Baker's tractor and trailer and Steven's motorbike, with Baker travelling at less than 25mph on a road with a 70mph speed limit.
Sentencing and family tribute
Following a trial, Baker was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving before he was sentenced to eight years in prison and suspended from driving for nine years on September 22 this year at Worcester Crown Court. Steven, who was due to go on holiday in Scotland with his girlfriend Sophie the next day, died at the scene.
Sister Rachel Sergeant told the ECHO: "He was our younger brother. He's the youngest of six. He was an absolute genius at everything that he did, he studied medicine at Swansea University, he was literally just about to get his doctorate which my parents picked up on behalf of him after the accident. They awarded him [his doctorate] which is why we refer to him as Dr Steven Lee. He was a qualified flying instructor and he was a musician. He was a qualified piano teacher by the time he was 16, he was also an accomplished photographer. He also, at 16, received a Queen's commission as well and he dedicated his whole life just to helping people so during covid he was there working on the wards, volunteering, he was just amazing."
Campaign for tractor MOTs
Steven's family are now campaigning to have MOTs made mandatory for tractors following his death. While numerous defects were found on Baker's vehicle, a tractor does not require an MOT to drive on public roads like cars and vans do should it be classed as an agricultural vehicle and cannot exceed 25mph.
The family have now launched a parliamentary petition to introduce mandatory annual roadworthiness testing for agricultural vehicles. The petition, which has already seen more than 2,000 signatures, needs 10,000 in total for the government to respond. Should it get 100,000 it will be considered for debate.
