An inquest into a fatal collision between a car and light goods vehicle in Lincolnshire which claimed the lives of five members of one family has concluded with the coroner stating he has “no confidence in the highway authority or contractor”.

 

HM senior coroner Paul Kelly last week described a reduced carriageway width and formation of a rut in the soft verge as contributory factors to the crash on the A18 near Grimsby three years ago. He has called on North East Lincolnshire Council to commission an independent safety review on the deteriorating section of road between Laceby and the authority boundary, to be completed within six months.

 

The review must, he added, consider the feasibility of realignment and reconstruction of parts of the route deemed unsafe to current design standards.

 

“The highway authority and its contractor have jointly presented a document ‘Proposed Measures’ to deal with their future approach to this type of hazard,” the coroner said. “The document is hurried and late given three intervening years during which the road has again begun to deteriorate. I have no confidence in the highway authority or contractor.”

 

Following the inquest CIHT’s asset management panel chair Alex Luck, who acted as an expert witness, told BBC’s Look North programme: “If the authorities in North East Lincolnshire had repaired defects to the road the crash may have been avoided.

 

“In my opinion the defect would have been present and clearly visible for a considerable period of time. It should have been identified as dangerous.”

 

A North East Lincolnshire Council spokesman said: “As a result of this accident the Council and its partner Cofely have agreed, and begun rolling out, measures to detect and repair defects similar to those involved in this incident.

 

“However we will be reviewing all the coroner’s conclusions and recommendations in relation to the authority, and taking appropriate measures.”

 

A spokesperson for the contractor added: “The company’s sympathies remain with those who tragically lost their lives in the accident. We will review the inquest’s findings and also the recommendations made in relation to our partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council, taking the appropriate action where necessary.”

 

The coroner also recommended that Humberside Police review its procedure for reporting road hazards. Roads policing chief inspector Glen Suttenwood said: “We note the comments and will consider those pertinent to the police carefully and take any necessary appropriate action.

 

“Road safety is a priority for us and we will continue to work with our partners to take action to make our roads as safe as possible.”

 

(Photo: Google Maps)