Investigation and inquest
On 6th February 2013 I commenced an investigation into the death of Arnold SOULSBY.
The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 15th May 2014. The conclusion of the inquest was that death was due to an accident.
Circumstances of the death
Mr. Soulsby was a pedestrian crossing the road at traffic lights which were on red in respect of traffic passing along the road which Mr. Soulsby wished to cross. As he crossed in front of the lorry, the lights changed to green, the lorry moved off without seeing Mr. Soulsby and he was knocked to the ground and killed. The driver of the lorry was unable to see Mr. Soulsby because the height of the bottom of the windscreen was above Mr. Soulsby’s height. The vehicle did not have forward facing mirrors, nor was it required to do so in view of its age.
Coroner’s concerns
I am concerned that the regulations that have been introduced requiring lorries to have forward facing mirrors are not retrospective, hence there are a large number of lorries on the road which do not have this facility. I have conducted a number of inquests where the circumstances are similar and I have previously drawn the attention of the department to this problem on (I believe) two occasions, one prior to the 2007 Regulations providing for forward facing mirrors and one thereafter.