Truck Driver Found Guilty After Fatal Crash That Killed Teen at Bus Stop
A truck driver has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving after a devastating collision at a bus stop that killed 14-year-old Logan Finch and seriously injured his aunt.
Tragedy on Eltham Road
On December 21, 2021, Logan was waiting for the 321 bus on Eltham Road with his aunt and cousins. Suddenly, 42-year-old Frederick Mansfield’s truck veered onto the pavement and smashed into the bus stop.
Logan was trapped between the truck and the wrecked shelter. Paramedics fought to save him, but the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene. His aunt Rachel Poole was badly hurt in the horror crash.
Trial Uncovers Grim Details
Mansfield escaped the crash without injury but was charged with causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. After a week-long trial at Woolwich Crown Court, a jury found him guilty on both counts.
At trial, Mansfield first claimed he hit the wrong pedal. Later, he said he couldn’t remember the incident and suggested he might have blacked out or fallen asleep behind the wheel. Medical experts diagnosed him with sleep apnea—a condition causing daytime fatigue due to disrupted breathing while asleep—which Mansfield blamed for the crash.
Evidence Paints Grim Picture
Prosecutor Rupert Kent told the court Logan was on his way to a barber with his family when Mansfield’s truck came hurtling towards them. The vehicle hit a lamppost before smashing into the bus stop near Kidbrooke Park Road, causing catastrophic injuries.
CCTV footage shown in court exposed conflicting statements from Mansfield. Despite claiming to have blacked out, the video showed brake lights flashing just before the crash and Mansfield correctly described Logan’s position, suggesting he was awake and aware moments before the disaster.
“His driving fell far below what is expected of a competent driver,” concluded Kent.
Next Steps
Mansfield, from Imperial Gardens, Hythe, has been banned from driving and granted bail pending sentencing next month. The case serves as a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of dangerous driving.
