Dylan Crossey: Driver's role in teen's death in coroner's report

The role a driver played in the death of a young cyclist who was hit late at night by a car has been highlighted in a coroner's narrative conclusion.

Coroner Dr James Adeley said it was in the "interests of justice" that he named David Harwood in connection with the death of Dylan Crossey, 15.

Mr Harwood, 49, from Preston, was cleared in 2018 of causing death by dangerous driving and careless driving.

The police watchdog is investigating officers who dealt with the crash.

Dylan was hit as he rode late at night with a friend on Wham Lane in Whitestake, Lancashire on 7 October 2016.

The young cyclist's head hit the windscreen of Mr Harwood's BMW and he was thrown over the top of the car and on to the road.

He died of multiple head injuries as the driver, who was a director of a company that repairs damaged vehicles, left the scene without stopping.

The coroner's conclusion said: "David Harwood did not see Dylan prior to the collision as he was entering a postcode into the BMW's satellite navigation system."

It said he "made no attempt to either brake or swerve to avoid the collision".

Dr Adeley added Mr Harwood was "aware at the time or very shortly after the collision that he had hit a person".

It was also said he had "consumed alcohol that evening before driving to an extent that he should not have been driving".

The coroner said he could not ascribe criminal or civil liability in his conclusion but said he could name persons who have "caused or contributed" to a death.

He added: "In this case my view is that the interests of justice warrant the inclusion of David Harwood's name in the determination."

A jury inquest began in 2021 but was halted when the coroner referred the case back to the Crown Prosecution Service asking for a charge of gross negligence manslaughter to be brought.

When no charge was brought the coroner restarted the inquest earlier this month.

A spokesperson for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it was continuing to investigate complaints over how police handled the initial investigation.

"Three officers have been served notices that they are under investigation for potential gross misconduct.

"These relate to allegations they may have provided misleading information about the investigation to the Crown Prosecution Service and may also have failed to record, retain and reveal information as part of their duties."

The spokesperson said Dylan's family received regular updates and its thoughts remained with his family.

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