Family contest death crash inquest verdict

Sep 19 2008 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

THE family of a woman killed in a head-on collision believe the Cheshire coroner should have recorded a verdict of unlawful killing as the other driver was on the wrong side of the road.

Relatives of Lynda Williams, 45, of Frodsham are now seeking damages from the insurers of the other motorist, 19-year-old Jamie Davidson, from Elton, who was also killed in the horrific smash last December.

Ms Williams was heading home when identical twin Mr Davidson, travelling in the opposite direction, lost control of his MG ZR sports car as he overtook another vehicle, a Chester inquest heard.

Both were pronounced dead on arrival at the Countess of Chester Hospital following the collision on the A56 Chester Road, Helsby, close to Helsby High School, about 10.25pm on Friday, December 14. Neither driver was wearing their seatbelt.

Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg recorded verdicts of misadventure in both cases.

Members of the Williams family said afterwards they were unhappy with the verdict given Mr Davidson, of Dove Close, Elton, was on the wrong side of the road, or at least straddling the middle, and may have exceeded the 60mph speed limit.

Daughter Georgina Spencer, who lives in Wallasey, accepted Mr Davidson “didn’t mean to do it” but believes a verdict of unlawful killing would have be more appropriate.

Solicitor David Dutton, representing the Williams family, said after the hearing: “We are bringing a civil claim and we are in negotiations with the insurer of Mr Davidson. A claim has been brought and hopefully there will be a settlement. The evidence shows the accident was his fault.”

The inquest was told Lynda Williams, of St Hilda’s Drive, was travelling home in her Peugeot 306 after dropping off Christmas cards at The Robin Hood pub in Helsby where she had met her sister Karen Roberts.

Security officer Jamie Davidson, a former Kingsway High School pupil, had just left his girlfriend Ellis Wainwright’s Frodsham home and was heading to work at a construction site next to Telford’s Warehouse in Chester.

Nurse Rebecca Jameson, from Helsby, was travelling home from Northwich infirmary along the A56 when she became aware of a car travelling “exceptionally fast” from behind which lost control as it overtook her and collided with an oncoming car. She rang 999 and made vain attempts to help the injured. In her statement she estimated the car may have been travelling at between 70-80mph.

Collision investigator PC Mike Prime said Mr Davidson was probably travelling at no more than 70mph when he collided with the Peugeot but the speed was “too great” for the course he was steering. The car started to slide but he overcorrected the steering and lost control. He may have braked and locked the wheels.

A post mortem examination showed Ms Williams died of a ruptured main artery and Mr Davidson died of multiple injuries.