Vivien Radocz

I am Simon Milburn Area Coroner for the coroner area of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough.

On 03.09.22 I commenced an investigation into the death of Vivien RADÓCZ, aged 28 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 07.03.23. The conclusion of the inquest was: Medical cause of death: 1a Drowning Inquest Conclusion – Road Traffic Collision

Vivien was the driver of a Ford Focus motor vehicle travelling west along Old Oundle Road, Wittering at about 1035hrs on 03.09.22. The vehicle failed to negotiate a sharp left hand bend, left the carriageway to the offside before it entered a pond and became submerged upside down in water. Vivien was unable to escape from the submerged vehicle which was not discovered until around 1730hrs that day. Emergency services attended the scene and Fire Officers then extricated Vivien from the vehicle. Sadly her death was confirmed at the scene by a paramedic at 1942hrs

During the course of the investigation my inquiries revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows: (brief summary of matters of concern) The vehicle involved in the collision failed to negotiate the left hand band on the westbound Old Oundle Road at Wittering adjacent to the rear crash gates of RAF Wittering. The vehicle left the road to its offside and entered a pond where it became submerged in water. The 2 occupants of the vehicle drowned as a result. There is sharp route deviation signage for vehicles travelling in the opposite direction but nothing to alert westbound drivers of the sharp left hand bend. The water beyond the bend clearly creates an additional hazard. Whilst the precise reason the vehicle failed to negotiate the left hand bend on this occasion is unclear I am concerned that the lack of signage alerting westbound traffic of the bend at this location creates a risk of future incidents and death, not least because of the water beyond.

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe your organisation has the power to take such action.