Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2025
Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2025-0075, written 7 Feb 2025. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.
| Date of report | 7 Feb 2025 |
|---|---|
| Reference | 2025-0075 |
| Deceased | Dafydd Craven-Jones, Dafydd Jones and Sophie Bates |
| Coroner | Kelly Dixon |
| Coroner area | Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent |
| Category | Road (Highways Safety) related deaths |
| Source | judiciary.uk record · original PDF |
| Responses published | none published |
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 Staffordshire Highways 1 CORONER I am Kelly Dixon, Assistant Coroner for the coroner area of Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent. 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 30 May 2024 I commenced an investigation into the death of Dafydd Hûw CRAVEN-JONES aged 18, Dafydd Morgan JONES aged 17 and Sophie Chloe BATES aged 17. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 05 February 2025. The conclusion of the inquest was that: travelling on the B5012 Cannock Road, Pillaton. On 25 May 2024, at around 11.47pm, Dafydd Huw Craven-Jones, aged 18 years was the driver of a Ford Ka registration There were 3 additional occupants of the vehicle. As the vehicle travelled over a hump back bridge towards Penkridge at speed it suffered a loss of control, initially mounting the nearside verge before travelling to the opposite side of the road colliding head on with an established tree, causing extensive front end damage. At the time of the collision the driver’s seat was struck from behind by a rear seat passenger who was not wearing a seatbelt. Dafydd Craven- Jones and the front seat passenger were pronounced deceased at the scene. The rear nearside passenger was seriously injured and died in hospital on 28 May 2024. The rear offside passenger was seriously injured but survived. Dafydd Craven-Jones died from multiple injuries sustained in the collision. travelling on the B5012 Cannock Road, On 25 May 2024, at around 11.47pm, Dafydd Morgan Jones, aged 17 years was the front seat passenger of a Ford Ka registration Pillaton. There were 3 additional occupants of the vehicle. As the vehicle travelled over a hump back bridge towards Penkridge at speed it suffered a loss of control, initially mounting the nearside verge before travelling to the opposite side of the road colliding head on with an established tree, causing extensive front end damage. Dafydd Morgan Jones and the driver were pronounced deceased at the scene. The rear nearside passenger was seriously injured and died in hospital on 28 May 2024. The rear offside passenger was seriously injured but survived. Dafydd Morgan Jones died from a severe head injury sustained in the collision. He was not wearing his seatbelt correctly and was sat on the waist belt with the shoulder strap pulled over his head. On 25 May 2024, at around 11.47pm, Sophie Chloe Bates, aged 17 years was the rear nearside passenger of a Ford Ka registration Road, Pillaton. There were 3 additional occupants of the vehicle. As the vehicle travelled over a hump back bridge towards Penkridge at speed it suffered a loss of control, initially mounting the nearside verge before travelling to the opposite side of the road colliding head on with an established tree, causing extensive front end damage. The driver and front seat passenger were pronounced deceased at the scene. The rear offside passenger was seriously travelling on the B5012 Cannock Regulation 28 – After Inquest Document Template Updated 30/07/2021 injured but survived. Sophie Bates was seriously injured and died in hospital on 28 May 2024 from a traumatic brain injury sustained in the collision. She was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision. 4 CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH As above. 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: There have been two separate fatal road traffic collisions on the B5012 Cannock Road between January 2024 and May 2024. I have concerns about the prominence of signage and the absence of road markings on the approach to the hump back bridge. 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 April 04, 2025. 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. COPIES and PUBLICATION 8 I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons Chief Coroner Family of Dafydd Huw CRAVEN-JONES Family of Dafydd Morgan JONES Family of Sophie Chloe BATES Serious Collision Investigation Unit, Staffordshire Police 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. 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: 7th February 2025 Regulation 28 – After Inquest Document Template Updated 30/07/2021 Kelly Dixon Assistant Coroner for Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Regulation 28 – After Inquest Document Template Updated 30/07/2021
Kelly Dixon
Assistant Coroner for
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
Coroners Service
Stoke Town Hall
Stoke on Trent
ST4 1HH
Road Safety Team
Staffordshire County Council
Staffordshire Place 1
Tipping Street
Stafford
ST16 2DH
E-mail:
11/04/2025
Dear Ms Dixon
Re: Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths
B5012 Cannock Road, Pillaton.
I refer to your Regulation 28 report regarding the inquest into the tragic death of Dafydd Hûw
CRAVEN-JONES aged 18, Dafydd Morgan JONES aged 17 and Sophie Chloe BATES aged
17, following a road traffic collision on 25/05/2025 on the B5012 Cannock Road, Pillaton.
This letter is in response to the matters of concern recorded in section 5 of your report, which
states:
“There have been two separate fatal road traffic collisions on the B5012 Cannock Road
between January 2024 and May 2024. I have concerns about the prominence of signage and
the absence of road markings on the approach to the humpback bridge”.
Following the fatal collision in May 2024, Staffordshire County Council have been in active
discussion with the Serious Collisions Investigation Unit at Staffordshire Police to understand
the circumstances of both fatal collisions. Site visits were also conducted with the local
Highways team and with elected representatives from district and county councils.
Research of all personal injury collisions recorded by Staffordshire Police has also been
undertaken which shows, since 01/01/2012, one other (slight injury) collision has been
recorded in the vicinity of this bridge (dated 15/07/2018).
The Collision Hazard Reports submitted by Staffordshire Police in relation to the incidents in
2024 had already recognised the presence of warning signs on either approach alerting drivers
to the presence of a hump-back bridge. The existing signs are in a good state of repair, and
visibility of the signs was not obscured when the site was assessed on 06/08/2024. However,
plans are currently being drawn up to increase the conspicuity of the bridge to oncoming
vehicles through enhanced road signage. In addition, the B5012 at Pillaton forms part of the
County Council’s 2025/26 routine surface treatment programme and additional road markings
will also be installed as part of this planned work.
As part of our statutory function and commitment to road safety, Staffordshire County Council
routinely monitors personal injury collision data reported on the public highway to identify
accident clusters and trends. Any treatable pattern of accidents identified will have
proportionate remedial measures put forward for funding and will be prioritised against other
locations around Staffordshire. Delivery timescales for the works detailed above are
dependent on weather conditions and other programming constraints but are currently planned
to take place during July/August 2025.
I hope the information provided within this letter is useful. Please let me know if you require
anything further.
Yours sincerely,
Road Safety Manager
Staffordshire County Council
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