Tony Elliott Jopson and Michael Ian Jopson · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 29th May 2015. I commenced an investigation into the death of Tony Elliott Jopson – 18 months old. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 29th March 2016. The conclusion of the inquest was:

1a) Severe Head Injury, Road Traffic Collision

On 29th May 2015. I commenced an investigation into the death of Michael Ian Jopson – 25 years old. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 29th March 2016. The conclusion of the inquest was:

1a) Multiple injuries. Road Traffic Collision

The deceased was a rear offside baby seat passenger in a Peugeot motor car driven by his father travelling west on the A66 road at Crackenthorpe Cumbria when the car gradually crossed the central white line of the single carriageway into the path of a goods vehicle travelling east bound. In the massive collision which occurred the baby seat sheared from its mountings and he was ejected through a window landing on the road. He died instantly.

The deceased was the driver of a Peugeot motor car travelling west on the A66 road at Crackenthorpe Cumbria when his car gradually crossed the central white line of the single carriageway into the path of a goods vehicle travelling east bound. A massive collision occurred and he died. It is probable that he momentarily got distracted.

This was the first of two incidents on the A66 within three weeks. The second occurred at Warcop on the 16th June. Both involved the car carrying the deceased crossing the single carriage way into the opposite lane and a head-on collision. The A66 is the main arterial route from the A1 in the east to the M6, Scotland and Ireland. It is extremely busy carrying a great deal of large goods vehicle traffic. The road varies from excellent dual carriageway to winding country road. From a road safety perspective the road should be dual carriageway throughout otherwise avoidable deaths with continue to occur.