Frederick George DUDLEY · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 26.11.2016 I commenced an investigation into the death of Frederick George DUDLEY. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 15.8.2017 The conclusion of the inquest was:

The deceased was an elderly pedestrian crossing a dual carriageway at an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing point when he was struck by a vehicle which failed to stop at the scene.

The deceased was 90 years of age. He mobilised well but was slow when walking and needed to turn his upper body when looking left or right due to neuralgia. . On the 25th November 2016 he had been to visit family and was returning home on the bus. At about 17.15 hours he alighted from the bus stop near to the Miller and Carter Public House on the A449 Stourbridge Road, Penn. He had with him a shopping trolley which he used as a walking aid and a walking stick . He had started to cross over the two lane dual carriageway at an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing point. He was probably at a point in the centre of the two lane carriageway when he when he was struck by a Volkswagen Scirocco motor vehicle registered number PJ59 WFO which was travelling along the A449 in the offside lane approaching from his right and from the general direction of Wolverhampton. This vehicle was overtaking other vehicles which were travelling in the nearside lane which may have obstructed the drivers view of the deceased. The driver of the vehicle failed to stop at the scene. There is a pedestrian crossing warning sign at the approach to the crossing. The speed limit at the scene of the collision is 60 mph the estimated speed of the vehicle involved was 75-85 mph. It was dark but the road was well illuminated. The deceased was wearing non reflective clothing. The weather was dry.

(1)The deceased had alighted from a bus and was crossing the very busy A449 dual carriageway at an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing point. The crossing is :

1. On a bend
2. Obscured by a brick wall in the centre of the carriageway.
3. The speed limit changes from 40 mph to 60 mph 260m prior to the crossing.
4. Uncontrolled.
5. Adjacent or very near to a public house, an elderly care home, a housing estate,
a bus layby and a road junction.

In this case the view of the pedestrian was obscured by vehicles travelling in the nearside lane. The deceased was elderly, another young female passenger had also alighted from the bus and crossed the road at the same point. She needed to hurry to avoid the approaching vehicles. The inquest was given to understand from police that there had been other incidents ( not necessarily fatal) at this location.