Colin McCallum

PFD Report All Responded Ref: 2024-0279
Date of Report 21 May 2024
Coroner Simon Milburn
Response Deadline est. 16 July 2024
All 1 response received · Deadline: 16 Jul 2024
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
Unmanaged risk of flooding and standing water on a specific road stretch has led to multiple incidents of vehicles losing control, posing a continued risk of future deaths.
View full coroner's concerns
I understand that responsibility for this stretch of road was passed to CCC by National Highways in Feb 2024. During the Inquest I heard evidence from National Highways Head Of Planning & Development(statement of attached). During the period Mar 2022 to Jul 2023 the Police were aware of 5 separate incidents on the stretch of the A1307 identified in statement where there had been personal injury or death to individuals caused after vehicles had hit patches of water before leaving the carriageway. I am concerned that unless the risk of flooding/standing water is reassessed and managed/monitored moving forward that there is a risk of future deaths occurring in circumstances similar to that of the current case.
Responses
Cambridge County Council Local Authority / Fire Service
8 Jul 2024
Action Planned
Cambridgeshire County Council has introduced a 40mph speed restriction and local traffic management on the A1307. Works are planned to commence in late July 2024 to remediate flooding issues, including clearing the French drain and verges, with monthly inspections to follow. (AI summary)
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Dear Mr Milburn, Regulation 28 - Response to Report to Prevent of Future Deaths - A1307 I refer to the above report which was received by the County Council on 21 May 2024. In this report you outlined concerns relating to the management of the risk of flooding and standing water at Hemingford on the A1307. The below response outlines the measures being taken by the County Council to address this risk. However, before providing the formal response to these matters, may I take this opportunity to express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Colin McCallum. Background The A1307 (former A14) was de-trunked on 8 February 2024 and control of the road transferred from National Highways to Cambridgeshire County Council on that date. On gaining control of the road, the County Council instigated an immediate speed restriction of 40mph on the affected stretches of the A1307 and introduced local traffic management so that the second lane of the dual carriageway at Hemingford is closed when there is a risk of flooding. Investigation of existing drainage The Council has investigated the flooding and surface water issues on the A1307. On the carriageway verges, it was clear that the verge maintenance to allow water to run off the carriageway had not been undertaken before the road was de-trunked. The verges had therefore built up above the level of the road surface thus preventing water runoff. In the centre of the carriageway there is a French drain which is a substantial drainage feature which allows water to permeate through coarse gravel and stone, filtering out debris and detritus before it enters a large, perforated pipe that runs below the barrier support posts. It needs to be established whether the drainage pipe is damaged and needs to be replaced.

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Proposed Remediation A plan has been developed to remediate the issues that have been identified. Works are planned to commence in late July 2024 and should take 4 weeks to complete. The works will involve the removal and clearance of the existing French Drain in the centre of the carriageway. Having revealed the drainage pipe, it will then be established if it needs to be replaced or cleared. Once any necessary works to replace or clear the pipe have been undertaken, the coarse gravel and stones will be reinstated. At the same time as the works on the French Drain, the verges to the side of the carriageways will be skimmed and gulleys will be cleared. Ongoing maintenance and review. These works will be tested and monitored for effectiveness to ensure that the actions undertaken have been successful in removing the flooding and surface water risk. Only when the Council is satisfied that the measures taken have removed this risk will the Council be able to remove the 40mph speed limit. The A1307 will be subject to monthly inspections by the Highways Inspector and the Local Highways Officer for the area, as well as enhanced monitoring when we experience heavy rainfall events. Cambridgeshire County Council remains committed to providing the safest roads for all road users and to further improve and enhance sustainable transport for all.
Sent To
  • Cambridgeshire County Council
Response Status
Linked responses 1 of 1
56-Day Deadline 16 Jul 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 17 July 2023 I commenced an investigation into the death of Colin Neil Duncan MCCALLUM aged 62. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 16 May 2024. The conclusion of the inquest was that: Mr McCallum was driving his Ford Focus westbound along the A1307 dual carriageway at Hemingford in Cambridgeshire at around 1545hrs on 14.07.23. It was raining heavily at that time. Mr McCallum was driving in lane two of the carriageway when his vehicle struck a patch of water. He lost control of the vehicle which crossed the carriageway to the nearside before entering the grassed hard shoulder where it struck a stationary vehicle which had stopped to assist another driver. Mr McCallum's vehicle then continued into the adjacent treeline before coming to a sudden halt. Emergency Services were called to the scene. Sadly Mr McCallum had suffered severe traumatic injuries as a result of the collision and despite attempts at resuscitation his death was confirmed at 1715hrs.
Circumstances of the Death
Mr McCallum was driving his Ford Focus westbound along the A1307 dual carriageway at Hemingford in Cambridgeshire at around 1545hrs on 14.07.23. It was raining heavily at that time. Mr McCallum was driving in lane two of the carriageway when his vehicle struck a patch of water. He lost control of the vehicle which crossed the carriageway to the nearside before entering the grassed hard shoulder where it struck a stationary vehicle which had stopped to assist another driver. Mr McCallum's vehicle then continued into the adjacent treeline before coming to a sudden halt. Emergency Services were called to the scene. Sadly Mr McCallum had suffered severe traumatic injuries as a result of the collision and despite attempts at resuscitation his death was confirmed at 1715hrs.

Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.