Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2026
Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2026-0182, written 26 Mar 2026. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.
| Date of report | 26 Mar 2026 |
|---|---|
| Reference | 2026-0182 |
| Deceased | Elizabeth Lang and Katie Lang |
| Coroner | Andrew Hetherington |
| Coroner area | Northumberland |
| Category | Road (Highways Safety) related deaths |
| Source | judiciary.uk record · original PDF |
| Responses published | 1 |
Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.
ANDREW HETHERINGTON
HM Senior Coroner for Northumberland
County Hall Morpeth Northumberland NE61 2EF
Email
Date: 26 March 2026
REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: Northumberland County Council
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CORONER
I am Mr Andrew Hetherington HM Senior Coroner for Northumberland
CORONER'S LEGAL POWERS
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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.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/25/schedule/5/paragraph/7
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1629/part/7/made
INVESTIGATION and INQUEST
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On 9 September 2024 I commenced an investigation into the deaths of Elizabeth Anne LANG and
Katie Alice LANG. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 26 March 2026.
I recorded a conclusion of Road traffic collision.
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH
On Thursday 5th September 2024 Katie Lang was the front seat passenger with her mother Elizabeth
Lang who was driving the motor vehicle.
The vehicle they were travelling in was approaching southbound from Ashington towards Sheepwash on
the A1068 Sheepwash Road, Ashington where the road enters a sweeping bend. The vehicle was
observed on entering the bend to lose control resulting in the vehicle rotating in a clockwise direction and
crossing the centre line into the northbound carriageway rotating sideways exposing the passenger side
then colliding with another vehicle which had insufficient time to avoid the collision. Both
Elizabeth and Katie sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene.The road is subject to a national speed
limit of 60 miles per hour. There was no evidence of excessive speed or braking, acceleration or
deceleration prior to the collision. There were no defects to either vehicle that caused or contributed to
the collision. The road conditions were damp and the coefficient of friction of the road was found to be
low.
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. -
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(1) During the course of the inquest I heard that Sideway-force Coefficient Investigation Machine
testing ('SCRIM" testing) is carried out by the council on an annual basis. Further that the county has
responsibility for an extensive road network. SCRIM testing carried out on 18 September 2024
assessed the coefficient of friction as low. I heard that Northumberland County Council has an
acceptable level of 0.5. Where the vehicle began to slide the coefficient of friction was 0.22. The
deceleration tests identified a coefficient of friction at 0.598g at the initial test site and 0.637g after
Bothal Bank.
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I heard from the Head of Highways at Northumberland County Council that works were undertaken
along the A1068 from Sheepwash Bridge to the junction of the A197 as part of the Council's yearly
Local Transport Plan. The works consisted of structural repair to the existing carriageway, a surface
dressing treatment and new road markings. The nature of this work is seasonal and weather dependent.
The works were completed by 3rd July 2025.
I heard evidence from three witnesses who are local to the area and have experience of driving along
Sheepwash Road. They described the bend where the collision occurred as notorious with experienced
drivers routinely reducing speed when navigating the bend. There is no advance warning signage
alerting unfamiliar drivers to the severity of the bend. The Forensic Collision Investigator and the Head of
Highways agreed advanced warning signage would be helpfull. I heard that Traffic sign regulation
standards are governed by the Traffic Signs Regulations General Directions 2016. The absence of
advance warning signage may present an ongoing risk to road users, particularly those unfamiliar with
the road layout.
ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you Northumberland County
Council 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 21 May
2026. 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
I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons - the family
of Elizabeth and Katie.
I 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. She may send a
copy of this report to any person who she 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
26
Mar
ch
2026
Signature [REDACTED]
Andrew Hetherington HM Senior Coroner for Northumberland
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.
Mr Andrew Hetherington HM Senior Coroner for Northumberland County Hall Morpeth Northumberland NE61 2EF Your ref: Date: 15 May 2026 Dear Mr Hetherington RESPONSE TO THE REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS This is Northumberland County Council’s (“the Council”) response to your report made under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 and dated the 26th March 2026 following the sad and tragic deaths of Elizabeth Anne Lang and Katie Alice Lang. May we take the opportunity to offer our sincere condolences to the family of Elizabeth and Katie Lang. The Council has carefully considered the Report to Prevent Future Deaths issued following the conclusion of the Inquest on the 26th March 2026. The Council will naturally seek to address the matters of concern identified, in particular those relating to driver awareness of the upcoming bend on the A1068 Sheepwash Road and the absence of advance warning signage. The Councils’ response to the MATTERS OF CONCERN: • Site Risk Status The location on the A1068 Sheepwash Road has been identified and recorded by the Council’s Highways service as a high-risk site for the purposes of traffic safety assessment. • Local Transport Plan inclusion The site has already been subject to resurfacing and road marking works during 2025/26 and has also been included within the 2026–2027 Local Transport Plan programme for traffic safety improvements. This ensures the location is subject to formal review and – Director of Environment and Transport County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF www.northumberland.gov.uk prioritisation within the Council’s approved governance and funding framework for road safety improvements. • Assessment of mitigation options As part of the above programme in 2026/27, the Council has now commenced a review of the site to consider options to improve the visibility and awareness of the bend for road users, including the potential use of advance warning measures. • Standards and compliance Any proposed measures will be assessed, designed and implemented (where appropriate) in accordance with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (TSRGD) and relevant national guidance. This is to ensure that any intervention is lawful, proportionate, and consistent with national standards. • Timescales The review and consideration of options for road safety improvements that are appropriate for this location will be progressed through the 2026–2027 Local Transport Plan delivery process, with the identified safety improvements then being prioritised for implementation within Quarter 2 of the 2026-27 financial year. The Council would like to thank the Coroner for highlighting the matters of concern and allowing us the opportunity to respond. As the Highways Authority, road safety is something we take seriously and can confirm that the Coroner’s concerns have been formally recorded and will be addressed through the actions outlined above. Yours sincerely Director of Environment and Transport
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