Coroner calls for changes at fatal crash junction
GoogleA coroner has called for changes at a road junction where a 65-year-old woman was fatally injured.
Anne Pember, Northamptonshire's senior coroner, said more deaths were likely to happen unless the exit off the A43 to Tiffield near Towcester was improved.
Jane Bennett died in hospital two days after a collision at the site.
The coroner's comments are contained in a prevention of future deaths report, which requires a response from its recipients - which are redacted in the report's published version - in 56 days.
The collision happened shortly after 17:00 GMT on 13 March on the A43 near Tiffield.
Northamptonshire Police said it involved a Ford Focus and a Volkswagen Golf colliding near the junction with St John's Road.
Ms Bennett, who was driving the Volkswagen, was taken to hospital in Coventry.
She died two days later.
The junction is on a busy stretch of the A43 dual carriageway between Towcester and Northampton.
It links the road with the village of Tiffield, which has a pub and a primary school.
People leaving the village and heading south on the A43 have to cross two lanes of the northbound carriageway.
'Difficult to manoeuvre'
In her report, the coroner said: "The junction of St John's Road, Tiffield and the A43 Northamptonshire is very difficult to manoeuvre.
"Witnesses who attended at the inquest gave evidence to the effect that, unless some changes are made, there are likely to be further accidents/or fatalities. I concur with this view."
She adds that the recipients of the report, "have the power to take action".
The recipients are told in the report that they must respond within 56 days with details of the action they intend to take and the timetable for taking it, or an explanation of why no action is proposed.
The report has also been sent to Northamptonshire Police.
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