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Investigation and inquest
On the 1 March 2017 I commenced an investigation into the death of Nina MAGGS and an Inquest into her death was opened on the 8 March 2017. On the 19 July 2017 I concluded Nina’s Inquest. I found that the medical cause of death was 1a) Multiple Traumatic Injuries and under 1b) Road Traffic Collision. In box 3 of the Record of Inquest I recorded how, when and where Nina came by her death the following:-
Nina died from multiple traumatic injuries at the scene when she was struck by an Iveco road sweeper (left hand drive) travelling slowly along Hyde Road at the junction with Ermin Street, Kingsdown Road and Beechcroft Road in Swindon. Nina was attempting to cross the road close to a dedicated pedestrian crossing heading northeast from Beechcroft Road at about 1623 on 23 February 2017. It is more likely than not that Nina had not appreciated that the driver was sat on the nearside of the vehicle and due to the presence of the A pillar and her height, Nina’s actions went unnoticed by the driver even when Nina was in front of the vehicle due to the height of Nina relative to the windscreen.
Consistent with what I recorded elsewhere on the record of Inquest as a conclusion I recorded – Road Traffic Collision
Circumstances of the death
See box 3 above
The published report provides this section by reference to another part of the report.
Coroner’s concerns
The general safety of pedestrians crossing this junction with Ermin Street, Kingsdown Road and Beechcroft Road in Swindon.
During the course of the Inquest I was satisfied that the reason Nina was not using the designated location pedestrian crossing across Hyde Road was due to the fact that in crossing the road she would not have had a clear view of approaching vehicles up Beechcroft Road which could be turning left into Hyde Road. It concerns me that whilst modifications had been carried out to the road to allow pedestrians to cross the road including those for example using disability scooters having regard to the lowering of the pavements they do so at significant risk of harm and even death. Whilst the junction is controlled by traffic lights there is no assistance given to pedestrians, such as a “green man”, an active sound indicating that it is safe to cross or vibrating module at the side of the road that can be sensed by somebody with a visual and hearing impairment. In fact I heard evidence during the course of the hearing that whilst there was a period of time when all the lights at the junction were red this lasted a matter of 4 seconds which is totally insufficient in my view in giving a pedestrian and in particular one that may have a physical impairment time to safely cross any of the roads at the junction.
My concern is so high here that I would ask you to treat this as a priority in considering what action if any is to be taken as I believe this is a regularly used junction by pedestrians and their safety is my utmost concern in submitting this Regulation 28 Report.
