Driver who died in collision had lost control of car, inquest told
A 40-year-old man who died in a Washington crash had cocaine in his system which may have contributed to him losing control of his car, an inquest has heard.
Andrew Lakey, of Pelaw, suffered a fatal head injuries as a result of a crash at Havannah Roundabout - at the junction of the southbound A194M slip road and the A182 Washington Highway.
An investigation found the 40-year-old tradesman, who was the only occupant in the Renault Scenic, had been driving southbound along the A194(M) in an ‘erratic manner’ before turning off at the junction.
An inquest, which was held at Sunderland Coroner’s Court, heard that Mr Lakey failed to slow down to negotiate the roundabout after entering the slipway and crashed on the A182.
Emergency services were called at around 9.50am on Sunday, October 4, 2020, but Mr Lakey was found dead at the scene.
Pathologist Dr Kate MacDougall, who carried out a post-mortem examination, said Mr Lakey died from a diffuse axonal injury due to traumatic brain injury. There was also evidence of cocaine use which the pathologist suggested was contributory.
A toxicology report found ‘evidence of recent cocaine use’ and therapeutic levels of tramadol in Mr Lakey’s system.
A police investigation was carried out following the fatal crash and officers spoke to a
number of witnesses.
The inquest heard that the car had been driven in an erratic manner on the A194(M) and had struck the safety barrier before reaching the
Havannah Roundabout slip road.
There was no evidence of any damage to the road which could have contributed to the single-vehicle collision and it occurred during daylight hours when visibility was clear.
The investigation found the primary cause of the collision was down to an error on the part of Mr Lakey and recent use of cocaine may have affected his judgement.
Coming to a conclusion Derek Winter, senior coroner for the city of Sunderland, said: “I take the view on the balance of probabilities that Andrew died as a consequence of a road traffic collision on October 4, 2020, on the A182 at Washington having lost control of the vehicle he was driving.”