Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2026
Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2026-0315, written 6 Jul 2026. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.
| Date of report | 6 Jul 2026 |
|---|---|
| Reference | 2026-0315 |
| Deceased | Eleisha Skinner |
| Coroner | Crispin Butler |
| Coroner area | Buckinghamshire |
| Source | judiciary.uk record |
| Responses published | 1 |
Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.
REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS REGULATION 28 OF THE CORONERS (INVESTIGATIONS) REGULATIONS 2013 Please do not include any living persons’ names in this document, in accordance with the Chief Coroner’s PFD Publication Policy (2026). 1. 2. 3. CORONER I am Crispin Giles BUTLER, Senior Coroner, for the coroner area of Buckinghamshire. DATE OF REPORT 06 July 2026 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. 4. THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO 1. Howarth Properties Ltd You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by August 31, 2026. I, the coroner, may extend the period if an appropriate application is made. 5. YOUR RESPONSE 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. I have a duty to send a copy of your response to the Chief Coroner. In accordance with the Chief Coroner’s Publication Policy, you should send me any representations regarding publication of your response. These representations should be made at the same time as the response is provided. I will pass any representations received to the Chief Coroner for a decision. Please note any links to webpages included in the response will not be checked for sensitive information prior to publication, as the information is already online. The names of those who do not respond to PFD reports are regularly published on the Chief Coroner’s webpages Non-responses to Prevention of Future Death (PFD) reports - Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. 6. SUMMARY OF CORONER’S CONCERN At the time of the incident in which Eleisha Skinner died there were issues with regard to the safe use of the driveway at 223 West Wycombe Road, High Wycombe. (More particularly detailed in Section 10). 7. ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion unless action is taken to address the above concerns then there is a significant risk of future deaths and I believe each of you have the power to take such action. 8. INVESTIGATION AND INQUEST On 16 January 2026, I commenced an investigation into the death of Eleisha Jacqueline Patricia Skinner aged 21. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 23 June 2026. The conclusion of the inquest was: Accident 9. CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH Eleisha Skinner died at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, during the afternoon of 8th January 2026 from the effects of the crush injuries Eleisha sustained when, on the evening of 4th January 2026, she became trapped between the rear of her Audi motor vehicle and the front wall of the house in which she resided as a tenant. On balance, the incident appears to have occurred as a result of Eleisha's vehicle slipping after having been parked with the handbrake on and dropping off the rear of the driveway, at a time when the boot was open, and Eleisha was behind the car in the process of unloading. It was a very cold night with frost on frozen snow, which made the inclined drive very slippery. There were no railings or other barrier or obstacle to prevent a vehicle over-run from the drive, nor was there evidence that the driveway had been salted or gritted. 10. CORONER’S CONCERNS During the course of the inquest I heard evidence 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: At the time of the incident, there were issues with regard to the safe use of the driveway at 223 West Wycombe Road, High Wycombe. (1) The driveway had a clear downwards incline towards a sheer drop of around 3 feet with no upward-projecting protective retaining wall, armco barrier or other method of preventing vehicle over-run. Railings have been installed at the top of the sheer drop, but the inquest was not able to examine whether or not these would address the issue or if they have created a new potential crush risk. (2) At the time of the incident, the driveway was very slippery as a result of the winter weather conditions. It remains unclear whether the tenants have access to gritting or salting materials and equipment and instructions as to how and when to utilise, or whether the owners or managers have any procedure in place to mitigate against such icy conditions. (3) The particular mechanics of this incident indicated a vehicle was being unloaded from a rear boot with the potential downwards trajectory of the vehicle in the event of slippage or rolling being directly towards the individual undertaking the unloading. There was no evidence of any instructions to users of the driveway regarding safe unloading of vehicles from the upper end of the driveway such that a vehicle will run away from those unloading if an issue arises. 11. COPIES AND PUBLICATION OF THIS REPORT I have a duty to send a copy of my report to every Interested Person who in my opinion should receive it. I also may send a copy of the report to any other person who I believe may find it useful or of interest. I can confirm I have sent the report to: [please do not use individual’s names, but instead roles/titles] The Family of Eleisha Skinner Buckinghamshire Council - Head of Regulatory Services Buckinghamshire Council - Planning Technical Response Buckinghamshire Council - Environmental Health Residential Team I also have a duty to send a copy of the report to the Chief Coroner. You may make representations to me, the coroner, about the publication of the contents of this report in line with Chief Coroner’s PFD Publication Policy (2026). Any representations will be sent to the Chief Coroner alongside the report. Please refer to box 4 above for additional information relating to the publication of reports and responses. 12. SIGNATURE Crispin Giles BUTLER Senior Coroner for Buckinghamshire
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.
REGULATION 29 RESPONSE TO A REPORT ON ACTION TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS In accordance with the Chief Coroner’s publication policy, no living persons’ names are included in this document. THIS RESPONSE IS BEING SENT TO: The Senior Coroner for the Coroner Area of Buckinghamshire, in response to a ‘REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATH REGULATION 28’ dated 6 July 2026, following an investigation into the death of Eleisha Jacqueline Patricia SKINNER and an inquest that concluded on 23 June 2026. 1. RESPONDENT In line with our duty under Regulation 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013, Howarth Property Ltd provides this response within 56 days of the date of the Report to Prevent Future Deaths, or any extension granted. 2. DATE OF RESPONSE 22 July 2026 3. CONFIRMATION OF CORONER’S MATTERS OF CONCERN The MATTERS OF CONCERN identified in the report are as follows: At the time of the incident, there were issues with regard to the safe use of the driveway at 223 West Wycombe Road, High Wycombe: (1) The driveway had a clear downwards incline towards a sheer drop of around 3 feet with no upward-projecting protective retaining wall, armco barrier or other method of preventing vehicle over-run. Railings have been installed at the top of the sheer drop, but the inquest was not able to examine whether or not these would address the issue or if they have created a new potential crush risk. (2) At the time of the incident, the driveway was very slippery as a result of the winter weather conditions. It remains unclear whether the tenants have access to gritting or salting materials and equipment and instructions as to how and when to utilise, or whether the owners or managers have any procedure in place to mitigate against such icy conditions. (3) The particular mechanics of this incident indicated a vehicle was being unloaded from a rear boot with the potential downwards trajectory of the vehicle in the event of slippage or rolling being directly towards the individual undertaking the unloading. There was no evidence of any instructions to users of the driveway regarding safe unloading of vehicles from the upper end of the driveway such that a vehicle will run away from those unloading if an issue arises. 4. DETAILS OF ACTION TAKEN Concern (1) — vehicle over-run risk Following the incident, the driveway was immediately closed. A handrail has since been installed at the lower end and edge of the driveway, which serves to protect against the risk of falling to the transverse walkway. The railings have been carefully designed and assessed by an engineer. Arising from that assessment, Howarth Property Ltd will additionally install a dedicated vehicle stop barrier alongside the handrail, as set out in Section 5 below. This is because a handrail alone could itself create a crush risk to a pedestrian if a vehicle were to run against it; the vehicle stop barrier will therefore act as the primary means of restraint and has been designed by an engineer. Concern (2) — icy conditions Responsibility for the day-to-day assessment of the driveway in winter conditions rests with the tenants of the household and visitors to the property. To support this, all tenants have been advised - by notices displayed on the communal notice boards and in written confirmation to both existing and new tenants - that in icy or otherwise dangerous conditions they must assess the driveway before use and refrain from using the driveway until conditions are safe. So that this advice cannot be missed or forgotten, permanent signage to the same effect will be installed at the driveway itself, for the benefit of visitors and all other users of the driveway. The sign will be in place no later than 1st October 2026 in advance of the winter. Concern (3) — safe unloading Written guidance on the safe parking, loading and unloading of vehicles has been issued to all tenants of the household. It instructs users to park at the upper end of the driveway; to leave vehicles secured with the handbrake applied, in gear (or in 'Park'), with the front wheels turned away from the slope; and never to stand behind or downhill of a vehicle while loading or unloading, so that a vehicle will run away from, and not towards, any person if an issue arises. 5. DETAILS OF FURTHER ACTION PROPOSED A dedicated vehicle stop (car stop) barrier is planned to be installed on the driveway to physically prevent any vehicle from over-running towards the lower walkway, alongside the handrail and railings already in place. Prior to installation, the vehicle stop barrier, together with the existing railings and handrail, will be specified and signed off by an engineer to confirm that they adequately address the over-run and crush risks. The barrier will be installed by 1st October 2026. The signage and notices will be checked as part of routine property inspections. 6. SIGNATURE Directors of Howarth Property Ltd
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