The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has agreed to pay £775,000 to the widow of a soldier who died in a road crash involving a faulty military vehicle. Lance Corporal Kevin Greenfield, 29, suffered fatal injuries in the incident on the A14 in Suffolk in March 2012.
The High Court heard that L/Cpl Greenfield was a front seat passenger in a Land Rover when it suffered a tyre blowout on the eastbound carriageway near Nacton. The driver lost control, and the vehicle hit the central barrier before stopping across the outside lane. It was left 'positioned precariously' with no lights to alert oncoming traffic.
L/Cpl Greenfield got out to help another passenger but was struck down when another motorist collided with the Land Rover, propelling it along the road. A police report found the tyre burst due to earlier damage and that power was lost because the vehicle's batteries were not correctly secured.
The MoD admitted liability for failing to ensure the soldier's safety and settled the case on the first day of the hearing. L/Cpl Greenfield, who served with 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) and had tours in Afghanistan, Kenya, Congo and Northern Ireland, was described as a 'dedicated soldier' and a 'loving and devoted father' to four sons. His widow Charlene, 31, will receive the payout, which will also provide financial support for their children.
