Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2017
Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2017-0042, written 28 Feb 2017. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.
| Date of report | 28 Feb 2017 |
|---|---|
| Reference | 2017-0042 |
| Deceased | Colin Hodge |
| Coroner | Stephen Nicholls |
| Coroner area | Dorset |
| Category | Road (Highways Safety) related deaths |
| Source | judiciary.uk record · original PDF |
| Responses published | 1 |
Text recovered by OCR from a scanned PDF. OCR is imperfect: check anything you rely on against the source PDF. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.
Stephen John Nicholls Assistant Coroner for The County of Dorset | REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS | THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: Dorset Highways Department CORONER lam Stephen John Nicholls, Assistant Coroner for The County of Dorset | CORONER'S LEGAL POWERS | make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. INVESTIGATION and INQUEST On 26/01/2016 | commenced an investigation into the death of Reverend Colin Hodge, 76. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 20 February 2017. The conclusion of the inquest was Road Traffic Accident. Medical cause of death — 1a Head injury 1b Road Traffic Accident CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH On the 19" January 2016 Reverend Hodge was walking along the High Street in Wareham and approached the junction of Howards Lane. The pavement was in a poor state of repair and there was no clear indication where the pavement ended and the road began. A motor vehicle was indicating and was slowly making a right angled turn to its left to enter into Howards Lane. According to the evidence of witnesses it appeared that Reverend Hodge saw the motor vehicle. Findings made at the Inquest were that Reverend Hodge stumbled on the uneven surface and fell against the side of the motor vehicle. The impact caused Reverend Hodge to fall to the ground whereby he struck his head. He was taken to hospital and died on the 25" January as a result of the head injury that was inoperable. CORONER’S CONCERNS During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. — (1) The evidence from the witnesses who were all from the Wareham area, was that the pavement and road way at the junction of the High Street and Howards Lane was in a poor state of repair. (2) At the time of the incident, the pavement and roadway were all of one level. (3) Evidence from the witnesses indicated that this junction was of concern for two reasons; Firstly that pedestrians would walk straight across as there was no clear boundary between the pavement and the road; Secondly, as the entrance to Howards Lane is narrow, cars would sometimes cut the corner. The Coroner's Court, Town Hall, Bourne Avenue, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH2 6DY Tel 01202 310049 | Fax 01202 780423 ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you, Dorset Highways have the power to take such action. YOUR RESPONSE You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by 26 April 2017. |, the coroner, may extend the period. Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed. COPIES and PUBLICATION of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons, | am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response. The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner. Dated 28 February 2017 Signature SONA, Stephen John Nicholls Assistant Coroner for The County of Dorset The Coroner's Court, Town Hall, Bourne Avenue, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH2 6DY Tel 01202 310049 | Fax 01202 780423
1 response published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.
ese Dorset County Council Dorset Highways Official County Hall Colliton Park Dorchester Dorset, DT1 1XJ Mr Stephen Nicholls Telephone: 01305 228177 Assistant Coroner Minicom: 01305 267933 Coroners Office for the County of Dorset We welcome calls via text Relay Town Hall a Email: Bournemouth DX: DX 8716 Dorchester Dorset Website: www.dorsetforyou.com BH2 6DY Date: 14 March 2017 Ask for: My ref: Your ref: Dear Mr Nicholls Inquest into the death of Reverend Colin Hodge The fatal site investigation was completed by colleagues at Dorset Police and Highway Officers on 23 May 2016. This investigation did not reveal any highway related factors that contributed to the fatality. Prior to this investigation the County Councillor for the area had raised local concerns with this location. The concerns centred on there being no kerb line defining the ‘end’ of the footway. In recognition of these concerns kerb stones were installed on 19 August 2016 to define the edge of the footway. As part of these works, a small section of new surface was Iaid in order to address concerns with the footway surface. Whilst the surface was not in any way defective a pragmatic decision was taken to improve the footway surface as part of the kerbing work. The images attached show the site in question before and after the work had been completed. Concerns regarding vehicles overrunning the footway whilst making a left turn into Howard’s Lane from North Street have not previously been raised with us. In recognition of these concerns a marker post (bollard) will be erected in the footway to prevent vehicles from overrunning the footway at Howard’s Lane. | trust that the actions already taken and planned satisfy your request for improvements to be made at the junction between North Street and Howard’s Lane. If you need more information please let me know. Yours sincerély Service Director Highways & Emergency Planning Enc. PY Director for Environment and Economy ot PER as ou ©. cranGnze® ¢ % INVESTORS Working together for a strong and successful Dorset “Oy. V go Xy_ IN PEOPLE rauc
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