SAMUEL GEORGE VASS · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 16 December 2024, I commenced an investigation into the death of 22-year-old Samuel George VASS.

The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 6 October 2025.

The inquest found the medical cause of death as follows

1a Head Injury

The inquest answered the four statutory questions - who, when, where and how - as follows …

Samuel George VASS died on 14 December 2024 on the A3083 near RNAS Culdrose Helston Cornwall from trauma consistent with injuries sustained after the vehicle that Sammy was driving crossed the carriageway into the opposite lane and collided with an oncoming vehicle. Sammy had a blood alcohol level well over twice the legal limit which will have significantly impaired his driving. It is likely that Sammy lost control of his vehicle on a bend due to driving at excessive speed for the conditions, whilst under the influence of alcohol.

The conclusion of the inquest was as follows

Road Traffic Collision

Mr Vass was a Royal Navy serviceman based at Royal Navy Air Station (RNAS) at Culdrose in Cornwall. He had planned to attend a social event in Helston on the night of his death. There was clear evidence that he had been drinking alcohol before he drove that night.

During the journey from RNAS Culdrose to Helston the car being driven by Mr Vass crossed the carriageway into the path of another vehicle ████████
████████ who had just picked up her father ████████ from Helston. ████████ had no opportunity to avoid the subsequent collision.

████████suffered life changing injuries as a result of the collision, and her father ████████ suffered serious injuries.

The concern is the absence of speed enforcement on the stretch of the A3083 road between RNAS Culdrose and Helston.

There have been a number of road traffic collisions on this stretch of the A3083. Mr Vass is the fourth person to be killed on this stretch of road in the last six years. In 2022 two serviceman were killed after a road traffic collision in which the cause of the collision was found to be grossly excessive speed by the deceased driver. In Mr Vass’ death, excessive speeding was found to have caused him to lose control of his car and cross the carriageway, contributed to by Mr Vass driving with excessive alcohol.

On this stretch of road the court heard that there are options for the installation of speed enforcement either by way of an average speed camera system or a fixed camera system.