Investigation and inquest
On 30/04/2019 I commenced an investigation into the death of Darren WILSON, aged 46. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 12/11/2019. The conclusion of the inquest was that Darren WILSON died as a result of Road Traffic Collision, the medical cause of death being:
1a. Multiple Injuries
1b.
1c.
2.
Circumstances of the death
On the 20th April 2019, whilst driving his motor vehicle along the A159 Gainsborough Road Scotter, Lincolnshire, the deceased performed an overtaking manoeuvre to attempt drive past the offside of a stationary vehicle positioned in the centre of the road, pointing in the same direction.
This car was signalling, about make a proper right turn onto the C229 road, when the deceased's car collided into the turning car having struck head on a second vehicle that had been approaching being correctly driven along the opposite carriageway, the presence of which the deceased had failed to observe.
The deceased sustained multiple un-survivable injuries and notwithstanding attempted resuscitation was to be pronounced dead at the scene.
Attending police officers established the deceased had not been wearing his safety at the time of the impact.
Coroner’s concerns
i. The Inquest heard from a Forensic Collision Investigator and a local resident who was also a former Highways Officer who both confirmed that the location of the collision was a notorious accident "hotspot", in that whilst there had been no previous fatalities, there had been innumerable "near misses" as well as non-fatal road traffic collisions;
ii. The inherent danger of the location arose because of a lack of traffic calming measures such as a reduction of the speed limit at this location as well as deployment of double white lines to inform drivers of the potential hazard and to prevent overtaking;