Weather is blamed for officer's death in crash
Thursday, 22nd August 2002.
HORRENDOUS weather conditions led to the death of Haverhill police officer Peter Evans, an inquest heard.
Coroner Peter Dean recorded a verdict of accidental death yesterday on Pc Evans, who died when the police car he was a passenger in crashed on the A12 at Great Saxham on February 24, 2001.
The inquest, at Bury St Edmunds, heard evidence from witnesses who saw the car before and after it smashed into a telegraph pole and lay on its roof on the grass verge at around 2.30am.
The driver, Pc Wayne Naylor, who also served at Haverhill, gave evidence. Pc Naylor told the court they had been trying to catch another car when he was confronted with a huge white line across the road. The line was probably a snow drift in the road.
He said: "I remember overtaking a post van. I was going about 100mph. I looked in the rear view mirror to pull in to the left hand lane and then I looked forward and all I could see was this white line.
"I immediately thought the car was going to slip so I took my foot off the accelerator. I recall the vehicle losing traction.
"I remember nothing after that, only voices outside."
Dr Dean asked if he was driving at an appropriate speed. Pc Naylor replied: "My primary concern is always for the safety of passengers and other road users. I felt it was an appropriate speed."
Pc Evans, of Avenue Approach, Bury St Edmunds, and Pc Naylor were trained to an advanced driving standard and were qualified to be in the armed response vehicle.
Pc Naylor gave evidence he had seen three cars driving through Kentford.
They followed the cars as it was common practice to stop cars at that time of night to find out where they were going and whether the drivers were drink-driving.
The court heard how other drivers had experienced terrible driving conditions with driving sleet and freak snow storms.
When delivering his verdict Dr Dean said this had been a death in "truly tragic circumstances."
He spoke of the unpredictable weather and paid tribute to Pcs Evans and Naylor and their dedication to their jobs.
Earlier this year, Pc Naylor appeared at Norwich Crown Court, where he admitted driving without due care and attention, reduced from a charge of causing death by dangerous driving, which he had denied.
He was fined £500 and ordered to pay £400 costs.
Coroner Peter Dean recorded a verdict of accidental death yesterday on Pc Evans, who died when the police car he was a passenger in crashed on the A12 at Great Saxham on February 24, 2001.
The inquest, at Bury St Edmunds, heard evidence from witnesses who saw the car before and after it smashed into a telegraph pole and lay on its roof on the grass verge at around 2.30am.
The driver, Pc Wayne Naylor, who also served at Haverhill, gave evidence. Pc Naylor told the court they had been trying to catch another car when he was confronted with a huge white line across the road. The line was probably a snow drift in the road.
He said: "I remember overtaking a post van. I was going about 100mph. I looked in the rear view mirror to pull in to the left hand lane and then I looked forward and all I could see was this white line.
"I immediately thought the car was going to slip so I took my foot off the accelerator. I recall the vehicle losing traction.
"I remember nothing after that, only voices outside."
Dr Dean asked if he was driving at an appropriate speed. Pc Naylor replied: "My primary concern is always for the safety of passengers and other road users. I felt it was an appropriate speed."
Pc Evans, of Avenue Approach, Bury St Edmunds, and Pc Naylor were trained to an advanced driving standard and were qualified to be in the armed response vehicle.
Pc Naylor gave evidence he had seen three cars driving through Kentford.
They followed the cars as it was common practice to stop cars at that time of night to find out where they were going and whether the drivers were drink-driving.
The court heard how other drivers had experienced terrible driving conditions with driving sleet and freak snow storms.
When delivering his verdict Dr Dean said this had been a death in "truly tragic circumstances."
He spoke of the unpredictable weather and paid tribute to Pcs Evans and Naylor and their dedication to their jobs.
Earlier this year, Pc Naylor appeared at Norwich Crown Court, where he admitted driving without due care and attention, reduced from a charge of causing death by dangerous driving, which he had denied.
He was fined £500 and ordered to pay £400 costs.
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