Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2024

Kyle Goater

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2024-0057, written 5 Feb 2024. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report5 Feb 2024
Reference2024-0057
DeceasedKyle Goater
CoronerAngela Brocklehurst
Coroner areaWest Yorkshire Western
CategoryRoad (Highways Safety) related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published1

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

Regulation 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

NOTE:  This form is to be used after an inquest. 
REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

1 

Ilkley Town Council 

1  CORONER 

I am Angela BROCKLEHURST, HM Assistant Coroner for the coroner area of West Yorkshire 
Western Coroner Area 

2  CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS 

I 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. 

3 

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 

On 23 July 2021 I commenced an investigation into the death of Kyle James GOATER aged 25. 
The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 19 September 2023.  The conclusion of 
the inquest was that: 

Upon the 20th July 2021, Kyle James Goater was travelling along Moor Road away from Ilkley, 
when his motor vehicle in good working order, approached a rising crest in the road which 
reduced his visibility of the road ahead. The road continued into a dip where a parked vehicle 
stood in a layby adjacent to the carriageway, on the offside. Unbeknown to Mr Goater an RAC 
van was stationary within the lane travelled by him indicating to turn right into the layby. Upon 
reaching the crest of the road Mr Goater became aware of the stationary RAC van, and braked 
to avoid a collision, which could not be avoided. As a result a of the collision between Mr 
Goater's car and the RAC van, a third vehicle travelling in the opposite direction became 
involved in the collision. Following the collision Mr Goater remained initially unable to free 
himself from his car, having suffered chest injuries which impacted upon his ability to breathe 
freely. The Ambulance Service was called to attend the scene, and whilst awaiting the arrival of 
a resource allocated to the incident, Mr Goater suffered a Cardiac Arrest: CPR was initially 
administered by the Police personnel prior to the attendance of the Ambulance crew , and then 
continued by a Paramedic, which failed to revive Mr Goater; with his death being certified at 
18:58 hours at the collision scene that day. 

4  CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

Kyle is a 25yr old young man who resides alone in Keighley. 

On Tuesday the 20th of July, Kyle has been the driver of a MGZS Motor Vehicle travelling from 
Ilkley towards Menston. As he has crested the brow of a hill he has collided with two separate 
vehicles. Kyle's vehicle sustained substantial damage. 

Police Officers from Bradford Road's Policing have attended the report of this collision. Initially 
Kyle was talking and mobilising at the scene of the incident. Kyle then began to complain of 
chest pain. His breathing then became shallow and he went into arrest. CPR was commenced 
by officers on scene. 

Regulation 28 – After Inquest 
Document Template Updated 30/07/2021 

 CPR continued until paramedics arrived on scene, they then took over. The paramedics 
continued CPR, until life was pronounced extinct at 18:58hrs. 

5  CORONER’S CONCERNS 

During the course of the investigation my inquiries revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my 
opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken.  In the circumstances 
it is my statutory duty to report to you. 

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows: 
(brief summary of matters of concern) 

As the deceased was travelling in his motor vehicle approaching the brow of the hill on Moor 
Road controlled by a speed limit of 50mph, no sign was in place to provide a warning as to a 
layby situated at the bottom of a dip the road which was unforeseen by the deceased. At the 
bottom of the dip a vehicle was indicating to turn right into the layby, which the deceased 
travelling in the same traffic lane was not able to avoid, an inevitable collision occurred and as a 
result of such collision the deceased lost his life. 
Had the layby been situated elsewhere or signposted well in advance of the crest of the hill it is 
likely that sufficient warning to an oncoming vehicle would have been provided in time to enable 
awareness of an oncoming vehicle and a reduction in speed from 50 mph. 

6  ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you (and/or your 
organisation) have the power to take such action. 

7  YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, 
namely by March 10, 2024.  I, 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. 

8  COPIES and PUBLICATION 

I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons 

who may find it useful or of interest. 

I am also under a duty to send a copy of your response to the Chief Coroner and all interested 
persons who in my opinion should receive it. 

I may also send a copy of your response to any person who I believe may find it useful or of 
interest. 

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. 

Regulation 28 – After Inquest 
Document Template Updated 30/07/2021 

 
 
 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. 

9  Dated: 05/02/2024 

Angela BROCKLEHURST 
HM Assistant Coroner for 
West Yorkshire Western Coroner Area 

Regulation 28 – After Inquest 
Document Template Updated 30/07/2021

Responses

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.

Response from Bradford Council (PDF)
Department of Place 

Ms Angela Brocklehurst 
HM Assistant Coroner for West 
Yorkshire  Western  Coroner 
Area 

Planning, Transportation & Highways Service 
4th Floor Britannia House 
Hall Ings 
Bradford 
BD1 1HX 

Tel:  
Fax:  
Email: 

Date:   15 November 2024  

Dear Ms Brocklehurst 

RE: Regulation 28 Report, Kyle James Goater, Moor Road Ilkley. 

Thank you for your Regulation 28 Report concerning the death of Kyle James Goater on 
Moor Road, Ilkley. 

Please accept my apologies for the delay in providing this response. Unfortunately this is 
resulting from time incurred identifying land ownership, job vacancies and changes in 
personnel.  

First of all, the Council would like to offer condolences to the family and friends of Mr 
Goater. 

I am able to inform you of the action taken to date by City of Bradford Metropolitan District 
Council in its capacity as Local Highway Authority. 

The land bordering the carriageway is privately owned, therefore not part of the adopted 
highway network maintainable at public expense or under the control of the Council in any 
capacity.  The informal ‘layby’ which has been created and within which the broken-down 
vehicle was parked is wholly within this private land. The layby was not created by the 
Council.   

Following careful consideration of the circumstances of this collision, the Council has 
installed a series of bollards on the edge of the carriageway (highway extent) to prevent 
access to the informal layby so that it can no longer be used by drivers.  In addition, the 
intermittent white line associated with an access which spanned the informal layby has 
been removed by extending the edge of carriageway road marking across it, thus forming 
a continuous line and representative of a continuous section of highway. Furthermore, a 
Hidden Dip warning sign informing drivers of the prevailing hazard has been ordered and 
will be installed at the very earliest opportunity.  

The sign has been arranged to be installed in November and the lining will form part of the 
area programme, the dates of which have yet to be confirmed.  However, the presence of 
the bollards delivers the necessary safety benefit in preventing use of the lay-by, with the 
lining being a supplementary measure. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Finally, following an experimental reduction in the speed limit on Moor Road from 60mph 
to 30mph, a review has been undertaken on its impact on driver behaviour, road safety, 
and traffic flow. The review highlighted several issues, most notably the potential 
occurrence of injudicious overtaking by frustrated drivers who find 30mph to be 
excessively slow for the road conditions. 

Consultation on the proposed speed limit is to commence this month (October 2024) with 
formal advertising in November followed by the sealing of the order in December, subject 
to no objections.  Should there be objections, these will be dealt with through the Council’s 
usual governance procedure.  This could delay implementation by 4 – 8 weeks, if the 
objections are not upheld.   

It is our assessment that a speed limit of 40mph would achieve a more appropriate 
balance between ensuring safety and maintaining a reasonable flow of traffic. A 40mph 
limit aligns more closely with driver expectations for this type of road and is likely to attain 
greater compliance and in turn, reduced driver frustration and the potential for dangerous 
overtaking manoeuvres.  It should also result in a smoother traffic flow and restore an 
appropriate level of travel efficiency yet maintaining safety standards significantly higher 
than those observed under the original 60mph National Speed Limit. 

It is considered that these measures will collectively act to prevent such an incident from 
occurring at this location in the future as well as achieving wider route safety 
improvements.   

I trust this work is seen as appropriate and a satisfactory level of intervention.   

Yours sincerely, 

Assistant Director – Planning, Transportation and Highways

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