Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Milan Hamza

Ref: 2023-0142 Date: 27 Apr 2023 Coroner: Simon Milburn Area: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Responses identified: 1 / 1 View PDF

Lack of adequate signage to alert westbound drivers of a sharp left-hand bend and the adjacent water hazard creates a significant risk of future road incidents.

Date 27 Apr 2023

56-day deadline 22 Jun 2023 est.

Responses identified 1 of 1

Child Death (from 2015) Road (Highways Safety) related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary

Lack of adequate signage to alert westbound drivers of a sharp left-hand bend and the adjacent water hazard creates a significant risk of future road incidents.

View full coroner's concerns

CORONER’S CONCERNS The vehicle involved in the collision failed to negotiate the left hand band on the westbound Old Oundle Road at Wittering adjacent to the rear crash gates of RAF Wittering. The vehicle left the road to its offside and entered a pond where it became submerged in water. The 2 occupants of the vehicle drowned as a result. There is sharp route deviation signage for vehicles travelling in the opposite direction but nothing to alert westbound drivers of the sharp left hand bend. The water beyond the bend clearly creates an additional hazard. Whilst the precise reason the vehicle failed to negotiate the left hand bend on this occasion is unclear I am concerned that the lack of signage alerting westbound traffic of the bend at this location creates a risk of future incidents and death, not least because of the water beyond.

Responses

1 respondent

Peterborough City Council Local Authority / Fire Service

10 May 2023 PDF

Action Taken

Following a police report, the Highways team reviewed signing on Old Oundle Road and installed a chevron sign to warn road users of a deviation, with works completed in January 2023. (AI summary)

View full response

Dear Simon Milburn,

Reg 28 Report - After Inquest HAMZA M P 03092022 - PCC

Thank you for your correspondence dated 10th May 2023 in relation to the above.

Following the report into the incident on Old Oundle Road, Wittering by the Police in 2022 our Highways team undertook a signing review of the road.

I note your concern and following our review can confirm that there were changes to the signing along Old Oundle Road identified. One of these changes included the installation of a chevron sign to warn road users of the deviation. These works were undertaken week commencing 9th January
2023.

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Report sections

Investigation and inquest

On 03.09.22 I commenced an investigation into the death of Milan Peter HAMZA (Otherwise known as Milan Peter RADOCZ), aged 8 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 07.03.23. The conclusion of the inquest was: Medical cause of death:- 1a Drowning Inquest Conclusion – Road Traffic Collision

Circumstances of the death

Milan was the front seat passenger in a vehicle travelling west along Old Oundle Road, Wittering at about 1035hrs on 03.09.22. The vehicle failed to negotiate a sharp left hand bend, left the carriageway to the offside before it entered a pond and became submerged upside down in water. Milan was unable to escape from the submerged vehicle which was not discovered until around 1730hrs that day. Emergency Services attended the scene and Fire Officers then extracted Milan from the submerged vehicle. He was rushed to Peterborough City Hospital but sadly his death was confirmed at 1944hrs.

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Report details

Reference: 2023-0142
Date of report: 27 April 2023
Coroner: Simon Milburn
Coroner area: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Responses identified

Responses identified 1 of 1

All listed responses identified

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 22 Jun 2023 (estimated).

Sent to

Cambridgeshire County Council

Source links

Judiciary.uk page → Report PDF →

Data: judiciary.uk under OGL.