Tree in fatal crash ‘had been earmarked as problem’
A TREE which crashed onto a car during high winds and killed a grandmother in Wakefield was earmarked as a problem years before the tragedy, an inquest heard.
Elaine Davison, 55, suffered fatal injuries when she was pierced through the chest by a 13ft branch on Aberford Road on November 11, 2010.
Her husband Edward, who was driving the Vauxhall Zafira, suffered only minor injuries.
On the second day of a jury inquest, Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard that the tree, which was one of 12 in St Peter’s Churchyard, had been recommended for removal in 1999.
Nicholas James, HM Principal Inspector of Health and Safety, had his evidence read to him by senior coroner David Hinchliff.
His statement said that Wakefield Council staff had been out to the site of the incident on four occasions between March and November 2009.
The court was told that the arboricultural officer who was in attendance at the call-outs notified the council of the poor state of the tree but declared that it’s removal was “non-urgent”.
Mr Hinchliff said: “On one occasion the council were called out to remove a large branch from the road.
“It was not a massive branch and the two colleagues were able to lift the branch between them and remove it from the road.
“The council employee noted that the tree should be removed including the trunk and he deemed it non-urgent.”
The council’s tree management system was described in court as having “a reactive approach” with tree inspections generally taking place every three years.
However, the court heard that the previous time the tree in question had been inspected was 1999 – when the tree had been recommended for removal.
Continuing Mr James’ statement, Mr Hinchliff said: “It can be concluded that the council fell below the standards with regards tree management.”
It was added that the council now has a new urban tree policy in place which examines trees every one to five years.
The jury inquest, which is expected to last two weeks, continues.