Investigation and inquest
On 17/11/2014 I commenced an investigation into the death of Anais Chantal Thouvenot, who was 22 years of age, at the time of her death. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 17 March 2015. The conclusion of the inquest was Road Traffic Collision. Miss Thouvenot suffered a traumatic brain injury following a road traffic collision whilst riding her bicycle and died on 16th November 2014 at Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham despite supportive measures. The cause of death was given as cerebral infarction due to traumatic brain injury.
Circumstances of the death
Miss Thouvenot was involved in a road traffic collision at the junction of Upper Kings Street and Regent Road in Leicester on 9/11/14 when she was knocked from her pedal cycle by a passing vehicle sustaining a serious head injury. She was taken to QMC, Nottingham, where she died on 16/11/14.
Coroner’s concerns
During the course of the investigation I was made aware of specific concerns regarding the safety of the road traffic junction at Upper Kings Street and Regent Road, Leicester. These concerns were highlighted to me by the Leicester Cycling Campaign Group (LCCG) and a member of the public ████████ who has also raised these concerns for the attention of Councillors ████████ and ████████.
The LCCG have informed me that they believe the junction to be inherently dangerous quoting a number of 'near misses' as experienced by their cycling group.
The specific concerns relate to visibility at the junction and absent or inadequate filter lanes, exacerbated by heavy traffic and the contour of the road at this junction. It is also known to be on a major cycle route into the city.