Lee Garfield DANIEL · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 21st September 2016 I commenced an investigation into the death of Lee Garfield DANIEL, aged 42. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 22nd December 2017. The conclusion of the inquest was “Road Traffic Collision”.
The medical cause of death was found to be:
1a Multiple Injuries
1b
1c
II

1) Lee Garfield DANIEL was born on 26th September 1973. At the time of his death he was 43 years old and worked as a landscape gardener.

2) At approximately 20.20 hours on Monday 7th September 2016, ████████ was driving her Nissan Almera in an easterly direction along Coach Lane, Brading, Isle of Wight. She indicated to turn right across Coach Lane at the junction with Park Road. She did not see any vehicle coming in the opposite direction.

3) Mr DANIEL was travelling on his motorcycle in a westerly direction on Coach Lane, Brading. He pulled out to overtake several legally parked cars (denoted on the attached map), necessitating that he was temporarily travelling on the wrong side of the narrow road. Forensic Collision Investigators have subsequently estimated that he was exceeding the speed limit of 30mph and travelling at approximately 45mph.

4) Mr DANIEL collided with Mrs Warrington’s motor car and was thrown off his motorcycle into the road. The driver in the vehicle which was travelling behind Mrs Warrington’s car had no opportunity to take evasive action, and Mr DANIEL was struck by this second vehicle too.

5) Mr DANIEL sustained massive traumatic injuries. He was taken to St Mary’s Hospital, Isle of Wight, before being transferred by helicopter to Southampton General Hospital. Despite the best efforts of the surgeons, he died there at 4 a.m. on 8th September 2016.

1. I have concerns about the road markings in Coach Lane, Brading. Had there been double yellow lines at the portion of the road where there were several legally parked vehicles (denoted on the attached map in the 20 metre boxed area), there would have been no necessity for Mr DANIEL to cross over onto the wrong side of the road, thereby affecting his visibility to any vehicle seeking to turn right across Coach Lane into Park Road. The extension of double yellow lines at that 20 metre portion of Coach Lane where cars can currently be lawfully parked can only enhance the safety of that stretch of road for the road users travelling in each direction.