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Lorry driver in crash horror speaks out on sleep disorder
A LORRY driver, who was suffering from sleep apnoea when he was involved in a fatal collision, is campaigning to raise the profile of the sleeping disorder.
Colin Wrighton's sleep apnoea was undiagnosed when he blacked out at the wheel of his 35-tonne lorry, which ploughed into a queue of stationary traffic killing a 25-year-old man.
Mr Wrighton (54), of Mitchell Street, Clitheroe, said: "Hopefully, through this dreadful accident something positive can be done."
Apnoea sufferers can repeatedly stop breathing during sleep at night for periods of a minute or longer and increases the risk of accidents due to excessive tiredness.
It is estimated the condition affects one in 25 men and one in 50 women between the ages of 30 and 60 with many people unaware they have it.
Mr Wrighton only became aware he was suffering from the disorder following the tragic accident on the M62 in Liverpool in August 2006, killing Toby Tweddell, of Greater Manchester. A coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death at the inquest into the death.
The father-of-three recalled: "One moment I was driving along and the next I had blacked out."
Now considered fit and able to drive by the DVLA, Mr Wrighton said: "If people are feeling more tired than normal, they need to go and get checked out before something like this happens to them."
Mr Wrighton plans to lobby Government transport minister Ruth Kelly MP to force all heavy goods vehicle, light goods vehicle and public service vehicle drivers to complete a sleep apnoea questionnaire on taking their initial medical to prevent such tragedies happening again.
Anyone wanting more information on sleep apnoea can contact The Sleep Apnoea Trust on 0845 606 0685 or at www.sleep-apnoea-trust.org and the British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association on 01737 245638, at www.britishsnoring.co.uk or by emailing info@britishsnoring.co.uk
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Friday 25 May 2012
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