James Gerard McGEOWN · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 20 March 2015 I commenced an investigation into the death of James Gerard McGEOWN then aged 46.
The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 22 July 2015.
The conclusion of the inquest was road traffic collision the medical cause of death being 1a) multiple injuries.

Mr McGeown was seen to overtake another vehicle. He was described at travelling well in excess of the speed limit of 70mph. Toxicology evidence revealed that he was also driving under the influence of alcohol. The Collision Investigator found that Mr McGeown was not wearing a seat belt.
At the time Mr McGeown overtook the other car, his vehicle was seen to "wobble" this caused the vehicle to step towards the nearside. In attempting to recover the situation Mr McGeown oversteered and collided with the central reservation, crossing over it and in to the opposing carriageway.

(1) I enclose a copy of the Collision Investigator's Report, prepared by ████████, I draw your attention to paragraphs 6.13 and 8.6. ████████ has identified an "undulation" in the road surface. It is likely that this caused the "wobble" seen by the witness immediately prior to Mr McGeown losing control of his vehicle.
In his evidence to the Court, ████████ said that he had driven this stretch of road on several occasions as a consequence of this incident. While travelling within the speed limit the undulation causes drivers no concern. At higher speeds (95mph), ████████ described the undulation as causing a loss of control that may have caused an unsuspecting driver to have a collision.
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