Paul Michael BRIGGS · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 23rd January 2017 I commenced an investigation into the death of Paul Michael BRIGGS, Aged 43. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 28th February 2017.
The medical cause of death was:

Ia Minimal Conscious State
Ib Traumatic Head Injury

The conclusion of the inquest was: Road traffic collision

On the evening of 03/07/2015 Paul Briggs was riding his own motor cycle on his way to work at Merseyside's Roads Policing Headquarters in Liverpool. As he rode up the Borough Road access road to the Birkenhead Tunnels, an oncoming vehicle, a Nisan Micra, veered onto his side of the road, across solid white lines and a collision occurred. Paul suffered multiple fractures and also a very traumatic brain injury which left him in a minimally conscious state. He was treated in the Walton centre until a Court of Protection order was made in December 2016 approving a palliative care plan. On the 11/01/17 artificial nutrition and hydration was withdrawn. Paul was pronounced having died at 09.15Hrs Saturday 21st January 2017.

Though there is appropriate signage, a two way sign as the carriageways merge and though there are double white lines dividing the tunnel bound carriageway from the Liverpool bound carriageway; this incident occurred resulting in a tragic death. It is unclear as to why the Nissan Micra strayed onto the wrong side of the road but had the double white lines also included rumble strips – (as in the tunnel itself and similar to the lines next to motorway hard shoulders)- this would minimise the risk of inadvertently straying into the oncoming lane especially at quiet times when the side barriers and the bend inhibit visibility of oncoming traffic.

It is now some 20 months after this tragic incident which proved fatal and risk assessments as to the risk of this eventuality, with appropriate remedial action should be nearing completion.