Christopher Lloyd TAYLOR · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 30/06/2020 I commenced an investigation into the death of Christopher Lloyd TAYLOR, aged 49. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 13/04/2021. The conclusion of the inquest was that Christopher Lloyd TAYLOR died as a result of Road Traffic Collision, the medical cause of death being:

1a. Pelvic and upper leg injuries sustained in a road traffic collision
1b.
1c.
2.

1. Mr Taylor was a keen recreational cyclist and on the afternoon of 15 June 2020 was riding his cycle on the U130, a minor rural road running between the villages of Kingthorpe and Apley near to Wragby, Lincolnshire.

2. The road was of tarmac construction and was wide enough for only a single vehicle. There were no road markings. The carriageway was bordered by a large overgrown hedge.

3. At a point near to 'Glad Wood' the carriageway turned through 90 degrees to the left for Mr Taylor.

4. As Mr Taylor entered the bend he encountered an agricultural crop sprayer approaching from the opposite direction. Visibility through the bend was limited and the evidence suggested that the two vehicles would only have been visible to each other for a matter of seconds.

5. Mr Taylor braked fiercely, falling from his cycle onto the ground where he was run over by the wheels of the crop sprayer causing fatal injuries.

6. The evidence suggested that Mr Taylor was not seen by the driver of the crop sprayer prior to the collision.

(i) The driver of the crop sprayer sat in a cab at the front of his vehicle. It provided an elevated view of the road with full length windows to the front and both sides.

(ii) Directly in front of the driver was a steering wheel and an A pillar at each front corner of the cab.

(III) To the right hand A pillar there was affixed a flat screen monitor. That was for use only when the crop sprayer was being used for agricultural purposes.

(IV) A police reconstruction established that the presence of the screen fixed created a 'blind-spot' in the drivers field of view extending several metres in depth.

(V) The driver of the crop sprayer had not seen the cyclist approach throughout the limited time he would have been in view. On balance that occurred directly as a consequence of the presence of the screen.

(vi) The screen had no function at all whilst the vehicle was being driven on the public highway and did not need to be on a fixed mounting.