Darryl Alfred Wayne Rego SOUZA · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On the 25/10/2017 I commenced an inquest into the death of Darryl Alfred Wayne Rego SOUZA aged 26.
The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 23/03/2018. The conclusion was that Mr Souza died as a result of a road traffic collision.

Mr Souza died on Saturday 7ᵗʰ October 2017 at the crossroads junction of Naseby Road and Longhold Road, Clipston, Northamptonshire as a result of fatal chest injuries sustained when the motorcycle he was riding was involved in a collision with a Mini motor vehicle.

Mr Souza had approached the scene on Longhold Road travelling from Sibbertoft. On Mr Souza’s approach, at a point 100m from the crossroads, the road negotiates a slight left hand curve and at the same location 2 warning signs are located at the near and the off side of the road with attached boards underneath that state “Give Way 100 Yards”. The road then straightens and it is possible to see straight over the crossroads through to the Kelmarsh road. Just prior to the junction, a “Give Way” sign is sited on the nearside grass verge. Faded, but visible give way lines then control the junction.

The Mini motor vehicle had been travelling on Naseby Road heading from Clipston towards Naseby. Approaching the scene from Clipston, the main Naseby Road leaves the village exiting the 30 mph zone and entering the 60 mph zone that is applicable up to and including the site of the accident which is 600m away. The road travels straight for a short distance before it then curves to the left round a slight bend. Once round the bend the road is straight and descends a slight decline towards the scene of the incident. As the scene is approached, the Naseby Road can be seen turning to the left up ahead and prior to this left hand bend, a crossroads warning sign mounted on a high visibility yellow board is situated to the near side of the road with a plate mounted underneath it stating “110 yards”. “Slow” is painted on the road surface adjacent to the road and although faded is visible. A further conventional cross road sign is situated towards the later end of the curve on the grass verge the near side footpath and again, “Slow”, is painted on the road surface adjacent to this sign.

Mr Souza was riding a sports motor cycle which meant he had a low position in the road. There were hedges on his approach which obscured his view of Naseby Road ahead. There were windows of increased visibility but these closed down the closer that he got to the junction. Mr Souza had slowed to 10-15 mph then almost came to a stop at the crossroads.

At the junction, the maximum unhindered view of Naseby Road to his left was 79m. A vehicle travelling at the applicable speed limit (60 mph) would cover 79m in 2.9 seconds. The Forensic Collision Investigator concluded it was, “possible that when Darryl emerged from Longhold Road, the driver of the Mini would not have had time to take any avoiding action”...
Mr Souza sustained serious chest injuries having collided with the A-pillar of the Mini and sadly succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

There was no evidence of dangerous or excess speed from either driver or rider. There were no defects in either vehicle that could have contributed to the accident. The weather and road conditions were favourable.

1. Paragraphs 6.11 – 6.14 of the Forensic Collision Investigator’s report is set out below.

6.11 There is no doubt that the visibility at this junction is compromised by the road geography and as such high visibility “Give Way” signs and crossroads signs together with “SLOW” painted on the road surface serve to highlight the location of the crossroads and the need to take care.

6.12 In view if the visibility at this junction and after reviewing the Collision statistics at this junction there are to be some improvements carried out.

6.13 These improvements include renewing the signing particularly from the Sibbertoft direction and noise or rumble strips to be placed on the road again from the Sibbertoft direction.

6.14 At the time of writing this report, there is no time frame as to when these improvements will be completed.

2. Additionally, during evidence, the Collision Investigator recommended that the junction may benefit from the installation of “Stop” signs.

3. One of the witnesses at the inquest stated that there had been a further accident, at the same location, around one week before the resumed inquest date.