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Dark Road Fatal: Faulty Streetlights Blamed
4 Dec
Summary
- Man died crossing a road with non-working streetlights.
- Driver couldn't see pedestrian until the last moment.
- Council aware of previous streetlight issues on the road.
A fatal road accident occurred on V11 Tongwell Street in Milton Keynes on February 19, where a 63-year-old man, John Hickmott, was struck by a car and died at the scene. The assistant coroner noted that the incident happened on a road where several streetlights were out of order, significantly reducing visibility.
The driver, who was below the 60mph speed limit, attempted evasive action but could only see Mr. Hickmott at the very last moment due to the darkness. Evidence suggested the pedestrian may have been intoxicated and was seen stumbling near the road shortly before the collision.
An investigation revealed that Milton Keynes City Council was previously informed about multiple non-working streetlights on this stretch of road. The coroner expressed concern over the delays in repairs and the adequacy of proactive inspections, requesting a formal response from the council regarding its procedures.
