Beverley Siddall

PFD Report All Responded Ref: 2016-0230
Date of Report 24 May 2016
Coroner Emma Carlyon
Coroner Area Cornwall
Response Deadline est. 19 July 2016
All 1 response received · Deadline: 19 Jul 2016
Response Status
Responses 1 of 1
56-Day Deadline 19 Jul 2016
All responses received
About PFD responses

Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.

Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Coroners Concerns
That two witnesses to the traffic collision noted in evidence that they had seen evidence of a good number of cars leave the A3075 road at Cottage, Perranwell at the same point as Mr Siddall: The police Collision Investigator at inquest; noted when he went to survey the scene there was another car present that had come off the road which had nothing to do with Mr Siddall's collision. There was concern at inquest that the road layout; Or safety notices andlor barriers in place,were not adequate and that this section Scilly and 16' Cosy of road should be reviewed with the view to reducing the risk of cars leaving the road at this point.
Responses
Cornwall Council
13 Jul 2016
Response received
View full response
Dear Dr Carlyon A3075 Lambourne Mill Bend, Perranzabuloe Thank YOU for your letter dated 24 and attached report with respect to a road traffic collision on the above highway. The Council has now thoroughly investigated the circumstances of this unfortunate incident and as we did not attend the inquest have made efforts to speak to the Senior Investigation Officer and Collision Investigator_ We have, of course, also examined and reviewed all the accident data kept by the Council After careful consideration of the facts resulting from our investigations, advice from the Council's lead Road Safety Auditor, the content of your report and the geometry of this particular highway, the Council has concluded that any works at this site such as crash barriers or Cornish hedging are as likely to cause injury to occupants of any vehicle that fails to negotiate the bends as to protect them from it: We note that in this instance the head injuries to Mr Siddall resulted partly from his failure to wear seat belt rather than from an excessively violent impact. Indeed, the impact itself was relatively minor and Mr Siddall's vehicle continued to drive over the field largely undamaged until it came to rest at the stream: Had a solid barrier been at the foot of the hill, the likely deceleration would have been greater not lesser than Mr Siddall experienced, and it may very well have resulted in exactly the same unfortunate outcome_ Whilst we are aware of anecdotal reports of vehicles ending up in the field ('damage- accidents), only one other accident has been formally reported in the last five years at this location (a minor injury collision) _ Given the severity of this bend at the foot of a long, steep hill on principal road, this is an unexpectedly low accident and injury rate. The lack of injury may well be attributable to the comparatively benign path into the field beyond, Consequently, blocking this with a solid fence or hedge could result either in a more severe direct impact if drivers lose control, or their redirection into the path of oncoming traffic with the potential for further injury. Cornwall Council, The Exchange County Hall, Truro, Cornwall, TRI 3AY EXYESTOR EX PEOPLB Tel: 0300 1234 100 WWW _ cornwall gov.uk Your Lodge May only'

This would only be worthwhile if the accident record itself warranted this compromise, and it does not appear to do so at the present time; we would be in danger of creating greater numbers of injuries than the measure might prevent: In 2003/4 the council carried out a Local Safety Scheme on this bend, erecting large yellow-backed chevrons and widening and hatching the bend_ This has proven to be very effective in terms of the accident record, and the bend has not been on the Council's list of accident cluster sites since this work was undertaken_ In recent years the speed limit has also been reduced to 4Omph (from 60mph), although this is somewhat academic given the nature of the corner There is little further that could be done to ensure drivers are aware of the severity of the bend, and to help them remain on the road_ In light of the above, therefore, the Council does not believe it is suitable to introduce solid restraints to the outside of the bend_ The Council will, however, continue to monitor the site and others like it in conjunction with the police: I thank you for bringing this matter to our attention and giving US an opportunity to review the site_ Yours sinterely Corporate Director Economy, Enterprise and Environment Tel: Emailz Cornwall Council; The Exchange County Hall, Truro, Cornwall, TRI 3AY TYAESTOA IN PEOPLE Tel: 0300 1234 100
Action Should Be Taken
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe you [ANDIOR your organisation or arm's length company e.g: Cormac] have the power to take such action. To review this section of road to address the issue of car leaving the road at the end of the series of bends on the A2075 at Cosy cottage
Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
Beverley Siddall died on 8lh August 2015 and an investigation was opened on 21st August 2015 and an Inquest on the 11" February 2016. The inquest hearing took place at Truro Municipal Buildings on May 2016_
Circumstances of the Death
Beverley Siddall was driving his blue Fiat Panda car registration numberl lalong the A3075 in the direction of Newquay on 7ih August 2015. At around 22.40 pm, after a series of bends in the road at Perranwell, near Goonhavern, he failed to negotiate the last bend and his car left the road and dropped down four feet and entered a field, where the car was seen to bounce until it came to rest in a nearby river He was not wearing a seat belt and the airbags deployed. As a result of this together with the collision, he suffered multiple injuries He was attended by a first-aider and paramedics and transferred to the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, Truro where he was recognized dead at 03.09 on 8th August 2015 as a result of his injuries. It was not clear whether there was any reason why Mr Siddall failed to negotiate the bend:
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.