Defective tyres blamed for graduate’s death
AN EDGE HILL University graduate died at the wheel of her car when she lost control in bad weather conditions, an inquest heard.
Megan Louise Byrne, 22, suffered fatal head injuries in the collision near her home in Belthorn, Blackburn, at around 10.40am on February 20.
Accident investigators later discovered that the yellow Mini One had two defective tyres, which would not have been visible to the naked eye.
As Megan negotiated a bend, she lost control of the vehicle, colliding with an Audi Q3 and into a field. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the collision, accident examiners discovered three leaks in the Mini’s run-flat tyres.
One of the offside tyres had a pressure reading of half the recommended level, and they were unable to get a reading from the other.
This would have affected the grip and handling of the vehicle, Preston Coroner’s Court heard.
Area coroner James Newman said: “Due to the nature of the tyres that were fitted, it would not have been visually obvious that the tyres were under inflated.
“On examination, there is no other explanation for the loss of control.”
The driver of the Audi, Heather Pimm, 31, suffered minor injuries in the collision.
The coroner said that there was nothing she could have done to prevent the crash.
A post mortem examination, carried out by consultant radiologist Dr Vinay Parmar, concluded Megan suffered “catastrophic and fatal head injuries”.
Mr Newman said: “I don’t think she would have known anything beyond the initial impact.”
He recorded her cause of death as a road traffic collision.
After her death, a spokesperson for Edge Hill said: “We are deeply saddened to hear that Edge Hill University graduate Megan has died in such tragic circumstances.
“She was an outstanding student and staff in the primary education department have expressed their sorrow at the news.
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with her family, friends and everyone who spent time with her at Edge Hill.”