AN Ipswich lorry driver has been charged with careless driving after a crash which resulted in the death of a 60-year-old man from Clacton.The 32-year-old, who has not been named by police, will appear before magistrates later this year.

AN Ipswich lorry driver has been charged with careless driving after a crash which resulted in the death of a 60-year-old man from Clacton.

The 32-year-old, who has not been named by police, will appear before magistrates later this year.

The man who died, David Leather, was driving a minibus on his way to pick up schoolchildren when he was involved in a collision with an articulated lorry.

The crash happened at about 8am on the A120 between Great Bromley and Horsley Cross on September 25 last year.

Mr Leather had started working as a school bus driver for just four weeks before the collision that cost his life.

He was working part-time for company Wards of Alresford after 30 years working full time for Ipswich Buses.

The accident happened before any children boarded the bus, which was due to travel to the 114-pupil primary school, St Joseph's Catholic School in Dovercourt.

There were 13 children due to ride on the minibus that morning.

However, news spread there had been an accident which was blocking the road and, without knowing the school bus was involved in the crash, parents made their own arrangements to transport their children.

Although the pupils did not know Mr Leather well – he had been sharing the route with colleagues, and the service was part of a new bus contract – they sent their best wishes to his loved ones and said prayers for him at school.

Last night, a police spokesman said: "A 32-year-old man from Ipswich has been charged with careless driving through his involvement in the death of David Leather, who was killed in a road crash in September 2002.

"Mr Leather was the driver of a minibus which was travelling along the A120 in Little Bentley when it was in collision with an articulated lorry. The 60-year-old from Clacton was certified dead at the scene."

The driver is now on police bail until he appears before Colchester magistrates in June. An inquest is expected to be held before that date.