Millie TAYLOR-NOONAN · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 12/12/2018 I commenced an investigation into the death of Millie TAYLOR-NOONAN, aged 18. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 25/09/2019. The conclusion of the inquest was that Millie TAYLOR-NOONAN died as a result of Road Traffic Collision, the medical cause of death being:

1a. Head Injury Sustained in a Road Traffic Collision
1b.
1c.
2.

On the afternoon of Tuesday 4th December 2018, whilst as a pedestrian crossing the A607 road adjacent to The Sir William Robertson School, Welbourn, Lincolnshire, the deceased stepped into the road and was immediately struck by a car being driven in a lawful and appropriate manner that the deceased had failed to appreciate being in close proximity to her.
As a consequence of the collision, the deceased suffered a significant head injury and cardiac arrest. She received active resuscitation at the scene and was transferred to the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham. The nature and extent of the brain injury was such that her condition was considered to be un-survivable. She was declared to be brain stem dead at 14:42 on the 5th December 2018. Following organ donation procedures, active support was withdrawn and she was formally to be pronounced as dead.

1. The location of the collision is in the immediate vicinity to the access and exit entrances to a large secondary school;
2. Whilst motorists have the benefit of advanced warning triangles indicating to road users that there is a school 100 ahead along with a speed limit repeater the location of the incident took place near a dropped kerb with a section of tactile pavement on the footpaths either side of the road, there is no indication to road users as to the imminence of what, was in reality a school crossing area and the area is also unlit;
3. The evidence demonstrated that the deceased may have been distracted by other road traffic users and in particular a school bus emerging from the school premises in the immediacy of the collision that serves to demonstrate the vulnerability of pedestrians in this location at such a time;
4. There are no other measures that exist to protect pedestrians such as:
a. Railings;
b. Street lighting;
c. An automated zebra or other form of crossing to allow a priority to be given to pedestrians;
d. A school crossing patrol officer;
e. A temporary reduction in the speed limit to 20 miles per hour at the beginning and end of the school day;