A 32-year-old HGV driver died when a strong gust of wind struck his vehicle on the M74 and tipped it over before it hit an oncoming car, a fatal accident inquiry found.
Bogdan-George Popa died on 29 January 2022 just north of junction 11 of the motorway when a yellow weather warning was in place.
The inquiry into his death heard how the wind caused Popa to lose control of his articulated lorry as it began to roll onto its offside.
It tipped over fully before crossing the metal barrier into the southbound carriageway and colliding with an oncoming Land Rover Discovery.
The cause of death was head injuries caused by the collision.
“There was insufficient evidence to establish an exact speed at which the wind could not, as a matter of certainty, have affected the lorry,” the inquiry found.
“However, the evidence strongly suggested that a combination of a lower speed and the skill of the driver could have given an opportunity to regain control after the unexpected cross wind hit the lorry.
“There is no evidence however that Mr Popa was driving at excessive speed.”
An HGV driver travelling behind Popa told the inquiry he saw the wind affecting his vehicle but that he had been able to correct the steering on a couple of occasions.
