Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Stuart Long

Ref: 2014-0320 Date: 11 Jul 2014 Coroner: Elizabeth Carlyon Area: Cornwall Responses identified: 0 / 1 View PDF

Confusion regarding appropriate responses to anti-social behavior in intoxicated, mentally unwell individuals led to a failure to take Mr. Long to a place of safety, exposing him to significant danger.

Date 11 Jul 2014
56-day deadline 5 Sep 2014 est.
Responses identified 0 of 1
Road (Highways Safety) related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary
Confusion regarding appropriate responses to anti-social behavior in intoxicated, mentally unwell individuals led to a failure to take Mr. Long to a place of safety, exposing him to significant danger.
View full coroner's concerns
In the early hours of the morning of his death, Mr Long was removed by police from his home address due to inappropriate behaviour (involving a vulnerable adult) while in drink. Mr Long had long term mental health issues and misused alcohol and was known to behave inappropriately when both of these issues deteriorated. On this occasion he was seen by members of the public to be jumping in front of cars. These behaviour was known to the mental health professional who worked with him.

It appeared from the inquest that there was some confusion as to how to appropriately dead with anti-social behaviour when someone was in drink/mentally unwell.

If Mr Long had been taken to a place of safety he would not have been able to jump in front of cars/die. In addition, his actions could have caused more accidents and/or led to the death of others.

Report sections

Investigation and inquest
On the 9th January 2014 I commenced an inquest into the death of STUART MILES LONG, otherwise known as, CAMERON TURNER, then aged 38. The inquest was concluded on the 7th May 2014. The conclusion of the inquest was open, the medical cause of death being multiple injuries.
Circumstances of the death
Stuart Long was a pedestrian on the A30 eastbound lane just past Launceston when he was seen to step/run out into the carriageway at around 05:50 on 22nd December 2013. He was struck by a Peugeot Boxer van registration number resulting in him lying prone on the road carriage way. He was run over/hit by at least three other vehicles that did not see him or were unable to avoid him in the road. As a result he received fatal non-survivable injuries. He had been seen stepping/running out in front of vehicles earlier that morning. He suffered from low mood/anxiety/ alcohol misuse and had told health professionals he had thoughts of self-harm by stepping out in front of vehicles/trains. He had been removed from his home address in Launceston by the police earlier that morning due to being drunk (212 mg/100 post mortem blood alcohol) and being aggressive to another. He was known to have mental health issues after using alcohol by front line workers
Action should be taken
I attach details of a national conference which appears to indicate that this is a national interagency problem. It maybe that you feel this report should be sent to others or a more appropriate agency and I would welcome some direction from you if this is the case.

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Report details

Reference
2014-0320
Date of report
11 July 2014
Coroner
Elizabeth Carlyon
Coroner area
Cornwall

Responses identified

Responses identified 0 of 1
1 response not yet linked

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 5 Sep 2014 (estimated).

Sent to

Cornwall Council

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