Oлеgs Sulaimovs · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 13 March 2014 I commenced an investigation into the death of OLEGS SULAIMOVS, 34 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 14 August 2014. The conclusion of the inquest was as a result of an accident having sustained a fracture of first cervical vertebra.

The deceased was a Latvian National who had travelled to the UK on 6th March 2014 to work on a Fruit farm situated on the A518 and known as Deersden Farm, Billington Bank, Stafford. During the season this and other neighbouring farms house an estimated 2000 migrant workers accommodated in caravans.
The farms are situated some miles outside of Stafford Town Centre on a very dark unlit single carriageway A road which is subject to a 60mph speed limit. For the majority there is no footpath and public transport is very limited at night. Police have received a number of complaints about pedestrians walking in the road which is particular hazardous during the hours of darkness.
At around 01.10hrs on the 9 March 2014 the deceased was walking in the carriageway towards Stafford. He was wearing dark clothing and was struck from behind by a vehicle travelling in the same direction. The deceased had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol.
The Police evidence was that this is a dangerous stretch of road. They had previously produced road safety leaflets to be distributed to migrant workers which had been printed in various languages but the circulation was limited and that the migrant workers would benefit from advice as to the dangerous nature of that road and encouragement to wear reflective clothing. It was probably unrealistic to expect the local authority to provide a footpath and lighting but they should be made aware of the problem.

1. The lack of information given to the migrant population temporally resident in the area with regard to the nature of the road.
2. The lack of supply/encouragement to wear reflective clothing.
3. The absence of a footpath and suitable lighting.
4. The lack of speed restrictions in an apparently highly populated area.