3 days ago
Council told to take action after woman died in crash on one of its roads
A COUNCIL has been told to take action after a woman died on one of its roads.
Dorothy Wagstaff, 86, passed away on January 11 after her car collided with a post, plastic barriers, railings, and a lamp post on Leeds Road in Otley.
An inquest into her death, conducted by Assistant Coroner John Hobson, concluded on June 26.
The cause of her death was ruled as multiple traumatic injuries and multiple medical comorbidities.
Prevention of Future Deaths Report sent to Leeds City Council
A Prevention of Future Deaths Report, sent to Leeds City Council Highways, says it was found to be "more likely than not" that the car hit the obstacles after Mrs Wagstaff suffered a medical episode.
The report adds that the plastic barriers were temporary and provided "little resistance" to prevent the car from leaving the road and colliding with railings and a lamp post.
The car came to a rest and paramedics attended, but Mrs Wagstaff's death was confirmed at the scene at 10.57am.
Coroner's concerns
Assistant Coroner Hobson outlined four concerns in the report.
These were as follows:
The trajectory of Mrs Wagstaff's car after the initial collision with the concrete post involved passing through temporary plastic barriers which, on the evidence heard, offered no resistance such that the car then proceeded to leave the road and collide with a lamp post before coming to rest back on the road.
Upon examining photographs of the scene, the road barrier/railings and sections of the road, it was noted that plastic barriers similar to those referred to in the record of inquest above were present in another section of the A660 Leeds Road.
Within the evidence adduced at the inquest, it was noted that Leeds City Council Highways Department have indicated that a schedule of works will be created with a view to replacing the old concrete and metal pole barriers with metal pedestrian railings in this area of the A660.
The concern that I raise is that photographs considered at the inquest indicated the ongoing presence of plastic barriers in a gap in the existing barrier/railings elsewhere along the stretch of road. Plastic barriers were a factor in the circumstances of the accident in which Mrs Langstaff sadly died. If that remains the case, I am of the view that action should be taken to prevent a risk of future deaths.
Council currently reviewing report in detail
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council, who has to respond to the report by October 12, said: 'Our sincere condolences go to Dorothy Wagstaff's family and friends at this difficult time.
'We have received the Coroner's report following the recent inquest and are currently reviewing its contents in detail.
"We will provide a full response to the Coroner at the earliest opportunity.'
