Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Michael Jopson

Ref: 2016-wp25249 Date: 4 May 2016 Coroner: David Roberts Area: Cumbria Responses identified: 1 / 1 View PDF

The A66 is a mix of dual carriageway and winding country road, and the coroner suggests that from a road safety perspective the road should be dual carriageway throughout to avoid avoidable deaths.

Date 4 May 2016

56-day deadline 29 Jun 2016 est.

Responses identified 1 of 1

Road (Highways Safety) related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary

The A66 is a mix of dual carriageway and winding country road, and the coroner suggests that from a road safety perspective the road should be dual carriageway throughout to avoid avoidable deaths.

View full coroner's concerns

This was the first of two incidents on the A66 within three weeks. The second occurred at Warcop on the 16th June. Both involved the car carrying the deceased crossing the single carriage way into the opposite lane and a head-on collision. The A66 is the main arterial route from the A1 in the east to the M6, Scotland and Ireland. It is extremely busy carrying a great deal of large goods vehicle traffic. The road varies from excellent dual carriage way to winding country road. From a road safety perspective the road should be dual carriageway throughout otherwise avoidable deaths with continue to occur.

Responses

1 respondent

Department of Transport Central Government

PDF

Action Taken

The Department for Transport has commissioned a strategic study for upgrading the A66/A69, with a commitment and funding allocated for construction after 2020. Immediate safety improvements are also being delivered this financial year, including completed works at Brougham and ongoing/planned measures at Kirkby Thore and Appleby to Brough. (AI summary)

Report sections

Investigation and inquest

On 29th May 2015. I commenced an investigation into the death of Tony Elliott Jopson 18 months old. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 29th March 2016. The conclusion of the inquest was: 1a) Severe Head Injury. Road Traffic Collision

Circumstances of the death

The deceased was a rear offside baby seat passenger in a Peugeot motor car driven by his father travelling west on the A66 road at Crackenthorpe Cumbria when the car gradually crossed the central white line of the single carriageway into the path of a goods vehicle travelling east bound. In the massive collision which occurred the baby seat sheared from its mountings and he was ejected through a window landing on the road. He died instantly.

Action should be taken

by upgrading the A66.

Similar PFD reports

Shared signals

Related inquiry recommendations

Report details

Reference: 2016-wp25249
Date of report: 4 May 2016
Coroner: David Roberts
Coroner area: Cumbria

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: 29 Jun 2016 (estimated).

Sent to

Department for Transport

Source links

Judiciary.uk page → Report PDF →

Data: judiciary.uk under OGL.