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'Blackout' driver may have hit accelerator before death smash

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date11 April 2024
Publication titleHuddersfield Daily Examiner
Driver Richard Brooke said he felt sick and warm and with 'tunnel vision' shortly before a collision which he said he had no memory of

The crash in Moldgreen, Huddersfield, in January 2018 led to the death of Katelyn, 15, and injured two others.

Mr Brooke, of Fenay Bridge, Huddersfield, said he had been planning to pull over due to feeling increasingly unwell, having dropped his son off at school earlier that morning.

An inquest into Katelyn's death heard yesterday from Dr Christopher Derry who gave evidence about what may have caused Mr Brooke to lose control of the car.

Dr Derry, a consultant neurologist with an interest in the diagnosis of blackouts, said Mr Brooke's account was consistent with him suffering a 'medical episode' at the wheel.

Dr Derry said the blackout may have caused the driver's legs to stiffen and put pressure on the accelerator pedal.

He said it was 'unlikely' that Mr Brooke had fallen asleep at the wheel as there was no evidence he was sleep deprived and because the collision had happened in the morning when people were usually at their most alert.

Dr Derry was asked for his opinion on whether Mr Brooke might have been 'distracted' while driving. He said the incident in question seemed 'prolonged' in nature and seemed to have involved the car 'drifting' and with no last-minute braking taking place. He said this pointed to "incapacitation rather than distraction" in relation to the driver.

Dr Derry said the evidence supported the driver having a 'blackout' caused by a drop in blood pressure. He said blackouts happening to people while sitting were 'a little unusual' but 'not that rare.' .

The doctor said a high proportion of fainting episodes led to 'stiffening and jerking' which may have led to Mr Brooke's legs becoming rigid, possibly...

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