Mr Reece Atkinson · Prevention of Future Deaths report

The inquest into the death of Mr Reece Atkinson was opened on the 11 December 2015 and was resumed and concluded on the 15th June 2016.
The cause of death was:
1a – Head injuries.
The conclusion was ‘Road Traffic Collision’.

On 2 December 2015 Mr Reece Atkinson, an 18 year old young man, was driving on the A25 Sheer Road in Albury. At approximately 10.10pm he lost control of his car whilst he was attempting to negotiate the right bend which passes the entrance to the Albury Sandpit. Mr Atkinson sustained fatal injuries when his car left the road and collided with a tree. The court heard evidence that it is likely that Mr Atkinson was approaching the critical speed for the bend, causing the car to run wide, and that the nearside tyres encroached on a build-up of wet soil and sandy deposits, exacerbating the situation. The court heard evidence that the deposits were tracked out by vehicles from Albury Sandpit.

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed the presence of a build-up of wet soil and sandy deposits on the side of the road on the A25 Sheer Road in Albury close to the entrance to Albury Sandpit.

Contamination on the side of the road close to the entrance to the Albury Sandpit on the A25 Sheer Road in Albury may present a risk to drivers.

Consideration should be given to whether any steps can be taken to minimise the contamination and alert road users.