Mrs. Margaret May Lewis · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 11 November 2020, I commenced an investigation into the death of Mrs. Margaret May Lewis. The investigation concluded at Inquest on 11 March 2022.

The medical cause of death provided by histopathologist, Dr. ████████, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital was:

1(a) Traumatic Injuries

The Coroner’s short-form conclusion was that of “Road Traffic Collision”.

These were recorded as:-

On the 6 November 2020 the deceased was walking on the tow path alongside the Montgomeryshire Canal. She passed through a ‘kissing gate’ onto the B4398 with the intention of re-joining the towpath through a similar gate diagonally opposite on the other side of the road.

Mrs. Lewis was crossing the road, when a car driven at between 16.5 – 22 mph came round a bend and into the glare of low autumnal sun which dazzled the driver. Because of this, he did not see Mrs. Lewis crossing the road and the car struck her causing fatal injuries. Witnesses state that the car had a quiet engine which could not be heard at the time of the accident. Low sun with commensurate glare was confirmed by witnesses and within the Police Investigation Report.

The Montgomeryshire canal and its adjacent towpath is a popular venue for adults with children and dogs; and joggers many of whom will wear earphones. They, like Mrs. Lewis who was thought to be wearing earphones at the time, will need to cross the B4398 (which has a 60 mph speed limit) to continue their exercise.

With the increasing popularity of noiseless electric cars, the frequency of wearing earphones whilst taking exercise and the B4398 having a 60mph speed limit, I consider there is a risk of reoccurrence of such an accident.

Within the Highway Code for pedestrians it states “Keep looking and listening for traffic while you cross, in case there is any traffic you did not see, or in case other traffic appears suddenly. Do not walk diagonally across the road.”