Coroner worried about flooding after driver's death

A coroner has raised concerns about flooding on a dual carriageway after a motorist died in a crash.

Simon Milburn outlined his fears about the risk of more crashes on a stretch of the westbound A1307 at Hemingford, Cambridgeshire, following 62-year-old Colin McCallum's death nearly a year ago.

Mr Milburn, the coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said Mr McCallum lost control of his Ford Focus after hitting a patch of water.

He said there had been "five separate incidents" on the stretch in the 16 months before the crash.

Mr Milburn had concluded an inquest earlier this month and said Mr McCallum died after suffering "severe" injuries.

He has now published a prevention of future deaths report.

The section of road was maintained by National Highways when Mr McCallum died.

Cambridgeshire County council became responsible for the road in February

The council said a 40mph speed limit was in place at the "Hemingford section" due to "concerns about flooding".

A spokesman said drainage works should be "completed" in the autumn.

The coroner said Mr McCallum lost control when he hit a patch of water on the dual carriageway near Huntingdon at about 15:45 BST on 14 July last year.

Police had said last year that Mr McCallum, of Pettis Road, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, died after his car collided with a Volkswagen Beetle.

They said the Beetle driver, a 19-year-old woman from Swavesey, Cambridgeshire, suffered minor injuries.

The coroner said: "It was raining heavily at that time. Mr McCallum was driving in lane two of the carriageway when his vehicle struck a patch of water.

"I am concerned that unless the risk of flooding/standing water is reassessed and managed/monitored moving forward that there is a risk of future deaths occurring in circumstances similar to that of the current case."

Mr Milburn said between March 2022 to July 2023 police were aware of "five separate incidents" on the stretch of the A1307 when people had died or had been hurt after vehicles hit patches of water.

Cambridgeshire County Council said it had taken over responsibility for the "old A14" road, which included the A1307, from National Highways in February this year.

A council spokesman said, as part of the handover process, National Highways had provided the council with almost £25m towards the maintenance of the road.

He added: "It is important we investigate the concerns raised by the coroner and we shall also be asking National Highways to input into that process.

“There is a 40mph speed limit in place at the Hemingford section due to concerns about flooding.

"The road has now been inspected and it has been determined that drainage works are required.

"These should be completed in the autumn.”

National Highways has been contacted for comment.

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