Leanne Carmen Gower · Prevention of Future Deaths report

Leanne Carmen Gower who died on the 26th May 2014 at the scene of a road traffic collision on the A508 near Stoke Bruerne in Northamptonshire. The inquest on the 12th November 2014 where I recorded a verdict of death by “Road Traffic Collision”.

Leanne Carmen Gower was a passenger in a car driven by her good friend. There was a loss of control and the car veered into the path of oncoming traffic where it collided with another vehicle. Leanne died at the scene.

It emerged in evidence that the police do not routinely check all provided data in relation to damage only incidents to the Council, MGWSP or any other party responsible for the maintenance of roads.

It was the evidence of PC ████████ that such damage only incidents stopped being recorded in January 2011, although the reason for that decision was unclear. In this particular case, the damage only collisions data was as follows:-
2010 – 5
2011 – 7
2012 – 3
2013 – 8
2014 – 13 to date

Although there were no reported incidents since the returturing of the relevant stretch of road, there is evidence of further incidents as one of the bollards has been displaced since.

████████ of the Police’s Safer roads team agreed in evidence that damage only collisions that are reported should be taken into consideration when determining whether any works are required to a particular stretch of highway.

████████ Principal Asset Engineer at Northamptonshire County Council also believed that collision only data would be helpful.