A coroner has issued a stark warning to National Highways and Hampshire County Council about the urgent need for more regular maintenance on a flood-prone A road following a fatal crash. The warning comes after 25-year-old James Scott died when his car lost control after driving through standing water.
Scott was travelling southbound on the A33 near Kings Worthy, Hampshire, on the evening of July 5 last year when the tragedy occurred. His car hit an area of standing water, causing him to lose control before the vehicle turned sideways and crossed into the opposite carriageway.
Fatal collision claims young life
The car then collided with another vehicle travelling in the opposite direction. Scott sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene of the crash.
An inquest into his death revealed serious drainage problems that had been allowed to persist for years. Two drains beside the southbound lane were compacted with vegetation, causing "little or no surface drainage" from the road despite the area being a known flood risk.
Maintenance failures highlighted
Annual scheduled maintenance, including clearing gullies and catch pits on either side of the A33, had taken place in May and November 2023. However, this proved insufficient to prevent the dangerous accumulation of standing water.
A temporary flood warning sign had been positioned just eight metres north of the flooding area on the grass verge. Remarkably, this temporary sign had remained in the same location for approximately five years, with ownership disputed between National Highways and Hampshire County Council.
Coroner demands action
Area coroner Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp sent a prevention of future deaths report to both organisations, highlighting the inadequate response to a known hazard. She stated that whilst the precise cause of flooding remained unknown, more regular maintenance could have prevented vegetation build-up in gullies.
The coroner expressed particular concern that only a temporary sign was being used when the area had been recognised as a flood risk for years. A forensic examiner concluded that the standing water was a contributory factor in both the crash and Scott's death.
Organisations must respond
Both National Highways and Hampshire County Council have been compelled to respond to the coroner's report by September 18. Rhodes-Kemp warned: "In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken."
Hampshire County Council said they were "terribly saddened" by the incident and their thoughts remained with Scott's loved ones. A spokesperson confirmed they were considering their response to the coroner's report but could not comment further whilst the process was ongoing. National Highways similarly expressed condolences and confirmed they would review the report and respond within the deadline.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
