A coroner said she will support extra safety measures being mooted in a bid to stop a trend of fatigue-related crash deaths on a A66 stretch through the Eden Valley.
During the past four years, police have identified seven fatal collisions across a 20-mile section of the trans-Pennine route and flagged up one particular patch between Kirkby Thore and Crackenthorpe as a major concern.
Driver error is cited as a common cause of crashes with often smaller vehicles crossing on to the opposite side of single carriageway areas of road and into the path of oncoming large goods vehicles.
One such tragedy occurred just before 6am on February 13 last year when a westbound Honda CRV driven by 76-year-old Laurie Flood veered into the eastbound lane resulting in an unavoidable crash with a wagon.
An inquest into the death of Mr Flood, a much loved husband and father, heard that the exact reason for him crossing into the path of the HGV in darkness and heavy rain will never be known.
Mr Flood suffered multiple injuries and was trapped in his vehicle but told a paramedic who treated him after the smash he was traveling faster than I should have been, 80-90mph. His condition then deteriorated, worsened in an ambulance and he died after being taken to Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary.
A police forensic investigator outlined a list of potential contributory collision causes. These were excessive speed of the Honda, distraction, driver error, fatigue, intoxication — Mr Flood had consumed cocaine before the incident — or a sudden medical episode.
Cumbria coroner Kirsty Gomersal concluded: “In my judgement, on the evidence provided, and in the opinion of others, it is very difficult if not impossible for me to say why this incident has happened.”
She did express the view that fatigue and a medical episode were less likely than other possibilities. Mr Flood had denied any loss of consciousness at the scene and hadn’t complained of suffering any chest pains.
However, Ms Gomersal also heard evidence from Sergeant Lee Hill, an officer with 17 years’ experience investigating fatal collisions in Cumbria Constabulary’s roads policing unit.
His recent analysis of the 20-mile A66 stretch showed, he said: “A large proportion of fatigue-related collisions.”
Indeed new software had latterly highlighted an increased number of collisions on the stretch between Kirkby Thore and Crackenthorpe which were “mainly due to fatigue” and involved vehicles heading west having switched from dual carriageway to single.
A major project to dual all single carriageway stretches between Scotch Corner and Penrith is due to start in 2024 and take around a decade to complete. Sergt Hill said central barriers separating west- and eastbound traffic would help to prevent head-on collisions.
But of the intervening period, Ms Gomersal asked the officer: “Does this remain a potential risk of fatalities caused by fatigue until the works are done?”
Sergt Hill replied: “It does. Yes. It’s a continuing risk as we go on until it’s upgraded.”
He said representatives of the police, fire service, highways and other interested parties met monthly to discuss collision trends. They are next due to get together on 17th April when that Eden stretch and possible interim solutions will be on the agenda.
“My initial suggestion for that would be the insertion of rumble strips which would give a vibration and audible alert to drivers that may, if they are coming under the effects of fatigue, give them a jolt as they leave the dual carriageways,” he said.
“That’s just my opinion. I need to consult with highways about whether that’s an acceptable response until the A66 is upgraded.”
Other improvements could include illuminated warning signs.
Ms Gomersal had wondered whether she should issue a formal report to prevent future deaths — an option open to coroners — but concluded that was premature given the discussions already being held.
“But perhaps the most appropriate and proportionate action for me to take is to write a letter to National Highways expressing my and my coronial colleagues’ concern about fatalities on this stretch of the A66 and support for any action which could be taken in the interim to reduce the number of fatalities which occur,” she said. “I will write that letter in due course.”
Ms Gomersal concluded the death of Mr Flood, a retired property repairer from Leeds, was due to a road traffic collision and offered her sympathy to his family. His wife, Jean, had described him in a statement as a kind and generous man.
“He will be missed by many,” she said. “I worshipped him and always will. I think about him every day and miss him greatly.”
