UK Inquiry Tracker

George Dillon

PFD Report All Responded Ref: 2024-0489

Date of Report 1 May 2024

Coroner Henry Charles

Coroner Area Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton

Response Deadline est. 8 November 2024

Road (Highways Safety) related deaths

Judiciary.uk Report PDF

All 1 response received · Deadline: 8 Nov 2024

Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)

A dangerous crest on a 60mph country road causes vehicles to lose control at lower speeds, exacerbated by poor visibility at night and a lack of adequate warning signs.

View full coroner's concerns

A. Lee Lane, near Romsey, Hampshire, is a country road, subject to the National (60mph) speed limit. There is a crest in the road at its junction with Spandard’s Lane. The Deceased lost control of his vehicle on the crest. B. The maximum speed at which a person can travel over the crest whilst remaining in full control of the vehicle is 45mph. A driver negotiating the crest around the speed limit of 60 mph will run the risk of the vehicle leaving the ground, or at the very least a momentary loss of effective steering control, followed by the underside ‘bottoming out’ on the road surface. Numerous historical gouge marks on the road surface either side of the junction demonstrate that “numerous vehicles have previously ‘bottomed out.’” C. When travelling south, approaching the crest, as the Deceased did, it is possible to see a bend in the road in the distance, but the road immediately beyond the crest is not visible to a car driver. D. It is suspected that there have been previous collisions at the scene. E. I am concerned that at night the extent of the hazard posed by the crest even to a vehicle travelling within the speed limit is not readily apparent and there is an absence of warning signs

Responses

Hampshire County Council Local Authority / Fire Service

28 Aug 2024

Action Planned
Following a review prompted by the PFD, the council has recommended crossroad warning signs, "reduce speed now" signs, and SLOW road markings on Lee Lane approaching Spaniard's Lane crossroads. (AI summary)

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Dear Sirs Re: Inquest of Mr George Dillon – Response to Reg 28 Report Highway Accident: 18/05/2023 in Lee Lane, Romsey We acknowledge receipt of your Prevention of Future Death (PFD) report dated 01/05/2024. We appreciate the concerns you have raised following the inquest into the death of George Dillon and apologise for the delay in responding to you. Actions Taken Your report highlighted several areas of concern, particularly regarding the speed of vehicles and number of collisions at this location. This has prompted another review by the Casualty Reduction Programme team into the circumstances of Mr Dillon’s collision. We attach this review for your attention. In summary, after careful consideration, we have recommended that crossroad warning signs and reduce speed now signs together with SLOW road markings are provided along Lee Lane on both approaches to the Spaniard’s Lane crossroads. Should you require any further information or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Part of a Series

2 separate reports were issued from this inquest, each sent to different organisations.

2024-0488
Sent to: Hampshire ConstabularyNational Police Chiefs’ Council

All responded

This report (2024-0489) is shown above.

Sent To

Hampshire County Council

Response Status

Linked responses 1 of 1

56-Day Deadline 8 Nov 2024

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

Report Sections

Investigation and Inquest

On 01 June 2023 an investigation was commenced into the death of George Robert DILLON aged 19. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 24 April 2024. The conclusion of the inquest was that: On the evening of Thursday 18th May 2023 the Deceased was driving a VW Golf south along a country road, namely Lee Lane, Romsey, in the vicinity of its junction with Spaniard Lane when at around 22.16 to 22.26 he lost control of the car by reason of his speed on a crest in the road, and hit a large tree. He was the sole occupant of the car. There is no evidence that any other vehicle was involved. He suffered catastrophic and unsurvivable injuries. He was taken to the Neurosurgical Unit at Southampton General Hospital where he died from his injuries on 20th May 2023.

Circumstances of the Death

On the evening of Thursday 18th May 2023 the Deceased was driving a VW Golf south along a country road, namely Lee Lane, Romsey, in the vicinity of its junction with Spaniard Lane when at around 22.16 to 22.26 he lost control of the car by reason of his speed on a crest in the road, and hit a large tree. He was the sole occupant of the car. There is no evidence that any other vehicle was involved. He suffered catastrophic and unsurvivable injuries. He was taken to the Neurosurgical Unit at Southampton General Hospital where he died from his injuries on 20th May 2023.