The family of a pensioner crushed to death by a Crossrail lorry are suing the driver after the case was thrown out by a judge.
Ted Wood, 74, was killed a hundred yards from his home following the collision in Whitechapel on February 6 last year as he made his way to a jazz session in Greenwich. He died at the scene in Mansell Street as he crossed the road.
The driver Keith Knight, 60, employed by haulage firm Erith, was charged with causing death by careless driving but the case was thrown out at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday
Mr Wood’s niece Sue Carpenter, 49, said she was now launching a civil lawsuit against him after describing the criminal process as an “utter charade”.
She said: “I feel very strongly that my late uncle and our family have been let down by the criminal justice system. The manner this was dealt with was just appalling.
“I felt we were treated with disdain. It is just awful. I intend on making a complaint to the Office for Judicial Complaints and a civil claim is under way.
“It is something we decided to bring immediately. It’s not about money it is about accepting responsibility for my uncle’s death. Someone is accountable yet I haven’t received an apology.
Mrs Carpenter described her uncle, a former lab assistant at the University of London, as a “hugely popular” man who rejected using a mobile phone because he would rather talk to people in person.
She added: “He lived in London all his life and was a very kind and religious man who had a lot of friends. He loved his jazz and was also a big Arsenal fan and into speedway.
“His friends used to say to him why don’t you have a mobile but he never saw the need for one. In many ways he was old school.
“He was extremely sociable and ate up every single day. His funeral was heaving with people even though he was not contactable which is unthinkable today.
“When he didn’t arrive for the jazz session his friends knew something was wrong.”
A CPS spokesman said: “Following a terminatory ruling by the judge in this case the Crown conducted a further full review of the case in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
"We concluded that we would not be appealing the judge’s ruling.
"The judge has therefore directed the jury to acquit the defendant.”
Erith did not respond to requests for comment when approached by the Standard.
