‘Seat-belts would have saved Blackburn crash death pair’ (From Blackburn Citizen)

‘Seat-belts would have saved Blackburn crash death pair’

1:20pm Thursday 21st March 2013 in News

TWO men who died in a road accident would have ‘almost certainly’ survived the crash if they had been wearing seatbelts, an inquest heard.

Dad-of-two Kevin Evans was a front seat passenger in a VW Golf when it collided with a Ford Focus in Preston Old Road, Feniscowles on October 11, last year.

Mr Evans, of Redlam, Blackburn died from multiple crush injuries at the Royal Blackburn Hospital a short time after the 11.30pm crash.

He had been travelling towards Blackburn, with close friend and driver Jamie Dickson, of Clayton Brook, the inquest heard.

East Lancashire Coroner Michael Singleton yesterday recorded verdicts of accidental death for the pair, after hearing evidence from eye witnesses and police investigators.

Mr Singleton said: “It seems to me almost certainly, that Mr Dickson and Mr Evans, had they been wearing seatbelts, would have in all probability survived the collision.”

The court heard Mr Dickson, who died of multiple injuries including rib fractures and a tear in the heart, had been more than double the drink drive limit and under the influence of cocaine when he lost control of his vehicle.

The 35-year-old fitter had been driving at excessive speed above the 30mph limit, when he moved into the path of an oncoming car, after negotiating a tight bend.

Giving evidence at Blackburn Coroner’s Court, Lesley Worjaski, the driver of the Ford Focus, said: “I had just negotiated the roundabout near the Fielding Arms when in just a split second I saw a car come round the bend on the wrong side of the road and hit me head on. I had been travelling about 30mph but there had been no time to react.”

The 53-year-old of Poulton-le-Fylde sustained internal and leg injuries in the crash.

Summing up, Mr Singleton said: “I understand when a person gets into a motor vehicle and they are clearly under the influence of drink and drugs they are making the decision to do so.

“For the split second it takes to put on a seat belt, I find it mind numbing that anyone taking this chance would do so without putting on a seat belt.”

Police investigating officer Jon Allwright added: “I urge all motorists to wear their seat belts as they really could prove to be a life saver.”

“Like the coroner said, if these two men had been wearing their seat belts they would have most likely have survived this accident.