Lorry driver given seven-year prison term for bus stop crash that killed young boy

A man has been jailed for causing the death of a 14-year-old boy by dangerous driving and causing serious injury to his aunt.

The driver, 43-year-old Frederick Mansfield, has been handed a seven-year jail term.

At around 3.30pm on December 21, 2021, teenager Logan Finch was waiting for a bus in Eltham Road, Greenwich with family members after having been swimming with friends.

As they waited at the bus stop, a drop-sided lorry, driven by Mansfield, drove into them.

London Ambulance Service, London’s Air Ambulance and London Fire Brigade attended the scene, along with police officers, where three pedestrians were found suffering from injuries. These included Logan, his 40-year-old aunt and her nine-year-old son.

Despite the best efforts of medical staff, Logan, who was from Eltham, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene around an hour later.

Mansfield, of Imperial Gardens, Hythe, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court today (Thursday) where he was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious personal injury by dangerous driving.

Detective Sergeant Louise Woodgate, of the Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “I hope that Frederick Mansfield uses his time behind bars to consider the human cost of his actions and the heartbreak he has caused to Logan’s family and loved ones.”

Logan’s aunt continues to suffer from the effects of her injuries.

Mansfield, who was driving the lorry, stopped at the scene. He was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and was taken to a South London police station and later released under investigation.

He was charged on October 28, 2022 and convicted following trial at Woolwich Crown Court on January 16 last year.

During trial he claimed to suffer with severe sleep apnoea and blamed this condition for the collision, however the jury did not accept this and found him unanimously guilty of both charges.

DS Woodgate added: “Logan’s death, and the injuries caused to the other two victims, were wholly avoidable.

“While nothing can bring Logan back, I hope that his family find a small measure of comfort from the sentence handed down and in knowing that justice has been served. All our thoughts remain with them.”

Pictured top: Logan Finch (Picture: The Met)