A company has been fined £240,000 after a man was killed in a crash when litter picking vans blocked part of a dual carriageway. 

Enfield man Tony Skerratt, 44, was a passenger in a Wren Kitchens lorry when it hit the vans, which were obstructing the inside lane of the A11 between Norwich and Thetford. 

The crash took place at around 12.45pm on February 26, 2019 as Serco, contracted by Breckland District Council, was carrying out a litter picking exercise while moving the vans slowly along the road and stopping from time to time to allow bags of rubbish to be collected. 

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated found that Serco Limited failed in its health and safety management of litter picking on high-speed dual carriageways. 

The investigation found the company had not provided employees with appropriate instructions to ensure safety and had failed to monitor the high-risk activity. 

Mr Skerratt’s family said: “The pain the family feels is as tender as the day we heard the worst possible news imaginable. 

“The court case has been ongoing for so long, the wounds are unable to heal until justice is served. Tony was the youngest of four children and the only son to mum and dad. 

“They grieve for the loss of their son – the pain of losing a child is something you can never recover from. 

“It wasn’t Tony’s time to go, otherwise we would have had the chance to say goodbye.” 

Serco pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act and was at Norwich Crown Court on June 23 the company was fined £240,000 and ordered to pay costs of £37,074. 

HSE Inspector Saffron Turnell said: “This was a tragic incident where the death of a member of the public could have easily been prevented had Serco Ltd implemented and monitored the robust management systems required to ensure such a high-risk activity could be carried out safely. 

“The company’s failings put its employees and those using the dual carriageway at significant risk and this incident has left a family grieving the loss of much loved son, brother and uncle. 

“Our thoughts remain with the family.”