Forklift driver killed at Silverstone, inquest hears

A forklift truck driver tried to jump clear of his vehicle before it overturned and fatally crushed him at the Silverstone Circuit, an inquest heard.

Andreas Petsche, 59, was clearing up at the venue after the 2023 British Grand Prix on 11 July.

The inquest was told he drove too fast with the forks raised when the incident happened.

The jury at Northampton Coroner's Court returned a verdict of accidental death.

Mr Petsche was working for a German company which had a contract to supply hospitality tents at Formula 1 races in Europe, the inquest at Northampton Guildhall was told.

Two days after the 2023 grand prix weekend, he used a forklift truck in the National Paddock while dismantling a two-storey accommodation unit.

Stephen Manley from the Health and Safety Executive told the inquest Mr Petsche was driving from the back of a lorry with the "forks raised and unladen".

"As he made the turn, the forklift began to overturn," he said.

"He was observed attempting to jump clear, and the forklift overturned on him."

Mr Manley added that Mr Petsche's seatbelt was "found plugged in but with the strap routed behind the operator's seat rather than restraining the driver".

Dean Foster, a logistics specialist at the circuit, said he saw the forklift starting to overturn and had shouted "stay still" while running towards the vehicle.

He said it was clearly going too fast and had its forks "at the very top" of the truck with nothing on them, which "isn't usual practice".

Mr Petsche was declared dead at the scene.

The inquest heard that the vehicle was examined by an expert and no faults were found. There were no problems with the surface of the paddock, which would have caused the vehicle to overturn.

Mr Manley concluded that the fatal incident was "caused by the forklift truck being driven at excessive speed with mast and forks raised to approximately 4.5 metres (5 yards) whilst manoeuvring in a tight curve".

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

In a statement, Mr Petsche's daughter Tessa described him as a motorsport fan who was "ambitious, dedicated and a skilled craftsman".

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