Florence Margaret Lowe · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 24th November 2014 I commenced an investigation into the death of Florence Margaret Lowe aged 85 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 21st August 2015. The conclusion of the inquest was that Miss Lowe died from multiple chest injuries as a result of a road traffic collision.

At 10.05pm on 18th November 2014 whilst attempting to cross the A519 Clayton Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, which at the point of collision is a 3 lane highway, two lanes northbound separated from one lane southbound by a solid white line whilst southbound there is a broken white line. The point of impact was adjacent to a petrol station and a property named ‘Fairfield’. She was struck by a vehicle travelling south after walking/running across 2+ lanes. Speed did not play any part in this accident.

1. During the course of the evidence my attention was drawn to the fact that the road is only subject to the statutory limit of 60mph whilst it has residential properties at places along its length, a busy petrol station and large lay-by southbound and a busy hotel northbound on joining the A519 upon leaving the M6 at junction 15.
2. Of the other roads approaching this junction the major one is the A500 dual carriageway, now subject to 50mph due to several fatal accidents, and from the south being 30mph, being 2 lanes only, narrow and houses in close proximity to the road.
3. Approximately a quarter of a mile from this incident northbound the road enters a roundabout with large residential areas accessing from both right and left but no pedestrian crossing on the south side of the roundabout.