Coroner wants cut to A500 speed limit after drink-driver's death
A DEPUTY coroner has called for the speed limit to be cut on part of the A500 after a drink-driver died in a crash.
Joshua Kirkham suffered fatal injuries when his Peugeot 207 hit a trailer parked in a lay-by, close to Junction 15 of the M6.
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ACCIDENT BLACKSPOT: The stretch of the A500 where the accident happened.
The lay-by near the Hanchurch roundabout has since been closed off after four people, Mr Kirkham included, died in four years after crashing into parked lorries on the unlit section of the 70mph D-road.
Now North Staffordshire deputy coroner Anthony Curzon will write to the Highways Agency to urge officials to cut the speed limit to 50mph on the A500 stretch between Hanford roundabout and Junction 15.
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He will also call for lighting to be improved on the road.
At an inquest into Mr Kirkham's death, the 20-year-old was described as a 'competent and sensible' driver.
Blood tests revealed he was almost three times the legal drink-drive limit at the time of the crash.
Mr Curzon recorded a verdict of accidental death.
He said: "It seems quite ridiculous that the 50mph speed limit should become a de-restricted section for what is little more than 1,000 yards."
The inquest heard Mr Kirkham, of Nantwich Road, Blackbrook, had been out drinking with friends in Hanley on the night of August 15 last year.
The former St Joseph's College pupil, who was studying for a degree at Lancaster University, had visited at least two bars and a nightclub before driving home in the early hours of the morning.
At about 3am, while travelling southbound in the outside lane, the offside wheels of his car partly mounted the grass verge on the central reservation.
His car then turned anti-clockwise across both lanes and collided backwards with street furniture and a bush before eventually hitting the rear of the trailer.
Lorry driver Colin Bourne, who was parked in a lay-by on the opposite side of the carriageway, said he heard a "very loud bang" and looked out of his cabin to see the aftermath of the collision.
The weather at the time of the crash was dry but the road surface was damp from rain earlier in the night. No defects were found with the car. Mr Kirkham had been driving for two-and-a-half years.
PC Roger Wetton, who investigated the collision, said: "The most common causes of control loss are excessive speed for the situation, poor steering, over reaction, fatigue and a reduced level of consciousness.
"I'm unable to say with any certainty the exact cause of the accident, however, any of those factors may be relevant and could be exaggerated or aggravated due to the intoxication of the driver."
Mr Kirkham played for Stoke Rugby Club and worked at Blakey's Bar in Newcastle, during his time off from university.
Speed limit cut on death crash road: Page 13
Comments
by bucephalus
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 9:39PM
“if you erect "50" signs and lighting columns on every section of road where there's been a tragic collision nobody will have a reason to drive cautiously”
by amartinone
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 6:39PM
“If the truck drivers need to stop for the night (perfectly reasonable), there should be a proper truck park at each end of the D-road, away from the traffic. There should never be laybys on a major dual carriageway within metres of a motorway junction.
As for slowing the traffic down ready for the roundabout, why not try adding some yellow rumble strips, like there are on the other end of the D-road and the A50?
Like it or not, to a very large proportion of drivers, lower speed limits look like the actions of a bureaucrat or polititian and are therefore ignored, even with speed cameras. Physically changing the road looks like the actions of someone with a bit more sense behind them, and making the vehicle shake forces the driver to act.”
by camband
Sunday, September 02 2012, 11:03PM
“You may as well blame a mirror for your unkempt appearance.”
by camband
Sunday, September 02 2012, 11:01PM
“I think it's cowardly to make hate filled attacks on inanimate objects like cameras. What have cameras ever done to deserved this level of putrid bile against them? -Defenceless and damned. You should all be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves.
If someone commits any other type of crime -say a daylight robbery, and as he runs out of the premises with the swag, and sees someone on the other side of the road coming out of another premises, that person completely oblivious of of what was going on opposite, until seeing the robber running out -making his escape, and so becoming a 'witness' for the prosecution, -how can the robber put the blame on that innocent person?
It just doesn't add up to me. Who'd be a camera? Who'd be a witness, innocent or otherwise?”
by ajb1986
Sunday, September 02 2012, 7:07PM
“Sorry to bring some sense of sanity to your comments but whilst this driver was killed partly due to his drink driving, an act we all do not condone; it does mention in the report of three other car accidents resulting in deaths have happened on this section of road within a four year period. It may this important statistic that led the Deputy Coroner to suggest the Highways Agency look at methods to improve the road safety on this particular road.
Surely, it is a great shame it has taken four seperate incidents until such measures have been considered. Although, no amount of road improvements can prevent accidents caused through the influence of alcohol; all adequate road safety measures should be implemented as standard on our roads
On the last comment, try being a cyclist in London; it certainly makes you reconsider a new denfition of the word "awful" regarding driving in comparsion with North Staffordshire”
by meirhayflyer
Sunday, September 02 2012, 5:53PM
“well iam sad he dead and the standard of driving in this city is truely aweful. More speed cams, more police enforing the laws plaese. Ride a cycle everyday for a week and then tell me you dont agree with me”
by Neil100
Sunday, September 02 2012, 10:20AM
“So this is the excuss for "Staffordshire road safety partnership" to put 10 speed cameras on the A500.
the accident had nothing to do with the fact that he was three times over the alcohol limit to drive according to the police!
How can a drunk driver be called a 'competent and sensible' driver in anyone point of view?
NO HE WAS RECKLESS WITH HIS OWN LIFE AND ANYONE ELSES ON THE ROAD!
How can the policeman PC Roger Wetton say "I'm unable to say with any certainty the exact cause of the accident" WHY IS THIS PC STILL IN EMPLOYMENT IF HE CANNOT EVEN MAKE A JUDGEMENT IN A CASE LIKE THIS.
IT IS VERY CERTAIN THIS MAN WAS "DRUNK" WHICH CAUSED HIM TO NOT RESPOND CORRECTLY TO HIS VEHICLE OR THE ROAD CONDITIONS.
ANSWER TO THE CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT=TO MUCH ALCOHOL FOR THE DRIVERTO DRIVE SAFELY THAT IS WHY IT IS ILLEGAL TO DRIVE OVER A ALCOHOL LIMIT NOT SPEED OR EVEN LIGHTING AS THERE ARE MANY ROADS WITHOUT LIGHTING THAT UN-INEBRIATED DRIVES DRIVE SAFELY ON EVERY DAY AND NIGHT.”
by I_Troll
Saturday, September 01 2012, 6:59PM
“@ABD
Why are you taking advantage of a tragic situation by advertising and promoting your silly little association that's always banging on about speed cameras?
You have no qualification above the rest of us but have wasted £20(?) on a wasted subscription.
You have every right to comment like anyone else but I think the site rules frown on advertising, so use a different name such as 'd_ubious'.”
by penkhull
Saturday, September 01 2012, 6:35PM
“A speed limit decrease alone will not work people will continually continue to break the limit. Some travel down this section at 80mph plus and even when it reduces through Stoke people break the 50mph limit.
These roads need to be properly policed and more idiots need to be taken off the road! I feel sorry for the family but he chose to drive whilst under the influence and others must pay for his actions!”
by THETROJON
Saturday, September 01 2012, 3:28PM
“cnrf557 Regardless of the way in which he died, driving on that road should be made as safe as possible."
yes by getting rid of drunk drivers .... would you have said the same if he had killed ..yes killed one of your loved ones ? i think not (thank god he only took himself out)”