Eleisha Skinner · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 16 January 2026, I commenced an investigation into the death of Eleisha Jacqueline Patricia Skinner aged 21. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 23 June 2026. The conclusion of the inquest was: Accident

Eleisha Skinner died at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, during the afternoon of 8th January 2026 from the effects of the crush injuries Eleisha sustained when, on the evening of 4th January 2026, she became trapped between the rear of her Audi motor vehicle and the front wall of the house in which she resided as a tenant. On balance, the incident appears to have occurred as a result of Eleisha's vehicle slipping after having been parked with the handbrake on and dropping off the rear of the driveway, at a time when the boot was open, and Eleisha was behind the car in the process of unloading. It was a very cold night with frost on frozen snow, which made the inclined drive very slippery. There were no railings or other barrier or obstacle to prevent a vehicle over-run from the drive, nor was there evidence that the driveway had been salted or gritted.

At the time of the incident, there were issues with regard to the safe use of the driveway at 223 West Wycombe Road, High Wycombe, Road, High Wycombe.

(1) The driveway had a clear downwards incline towards a sheer drop of around 3 feet with no upward-projecting protective retaining wall, armco barrier or other method of preventing vehicle over-run. Railings have been installed at the top of the sheer drop, but the inquest was not able to examine whether or not these would address the issue or if they have created a new potential crush risk.

(2) At the time of the incident, the driveway was very slippery as a result of the winter weather conditions. It remains unclear whether the tenants have access to gritting or salting materials and equipment and instructions as to how and when to utilise, or whether the owners or managers have any procedure in place to mitigate against such icy conditions.

(3) The particular mechanics of this incident indicated a vehicle was being unloaded from a rear boot with the potential downwards trajectory of the vehicle in the event of slippage or rolling being directly towards the individual undertaking the unloading. There was no evidence of any instructions to users of the driveway regarding safe unloading of vehicles from the upper end of the driveway such that a vehicle will run away from those unloading if an issue arises.