Rowan Lloyd · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On the 13th June 2018, an investigation was commenced into the death of Rowan Lloyd, who was born on 9th December 2003.

The investigation concluded at the end of the Inquest on the 29th November 2018.

The Medical Cause of Death was:

1a Multiple chest, abdominal and pelvic injuries

The conclusion of the Inquest was that Rowan Lloyd died as a consequence of a road traffic collision.

On the afternoon of 6th June 2018, Rowan Lloyd was cycling home from school. He was cycling south on the eastern pavement of Portland Road. The road traffic was heavy, and there were both pedestrians and cyclists on the pavement at the time of the collision.

As Rowan reached the junction of Portland Road, Murley Road and Langton Avenue, he collided with the traffic signal pole and fell to his right, into the road. At that time, a Mercedes Heavy Tractor and semi-trailer was pulling away from the signal controlled junction. Rowan fell under the wheels of the trailer, sustaining multiple injuries. Rowan was pronounced dead at the scene.

1. During the inquest evidence was heard that:

i. I heard evidence that the junction of Portland Road, Murley Road and Langton Avenue is a particularly busy junction during the rush hours and during the “school runs”, as Portland Road is the main road into Portland and this junction is close to a number of schools. However, I heard evidence that there are no crossing points for pedestrians at the junction, no advanced stop line for cyclists, no cycle lane and no barriers between the road and the pavement on the approach to the traffic signals.

2. I have concerns with regard to the following:

i. Pedestrians have to “guess” when the lights are in their favour, depending upon the road they intend to cross at the junction; there is no pelican crossing at the junction to assist pedestrians, many of who are of school age, to cross safely at this junction.
ii. There is no barrier between the pavement and the road as the junction is approached from the north. This allows pedestrians and cyclists to potentially cross between cars that are held at the junction by the lights, and would mean cars travelling in a northerly direction up Portland Road would have an obscured view of those crossing the road between stationary vehicles.
iii. There is no accommodation for cyclists. Given that many of the cyclists using this road will be of school age, particular care needs to be taken to ensure that cyclists can use the road safely and be clearly seen by drivers using Portland Road, perhaps by way of dedicated cycle lanes and/or advanced stop lines at the traffic signals.