Car driven by man who died in double-death crash was riddled with faults

04/11/2023

One of the cars involved in a crash that killed two men was riddled with faults, an inquest has heard. Jordan Patalong died after the suspension wishbone in his Subaru Impreza, which was already severely corroded, snapped, leading to him crossing the carriageway and crashing into the car driven by 48-year-old Paul Adams. Jordan, 22, was driving the Subaru and dad-of-one Paul was driving a Citroen when their vehicles collided on the A53 Buxton Road in Leek [1] on Monday, August 8, 2022.

Both men were declared dead at the scene. Now, an inquest at Stoke on Trent Coroner’s Court has heard about a wide range of mechanical issues on the Subaru, including a failure in the anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and a crucial component of the airbag system, the clock spring, was missing, meaning Mr Patalong’s airbag did not deploy. The inquest also heard he was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash and some of the emergency lights had been covered with electrical tape.

READ: Three hurt and chihuahua killed by ‘XL Bully dogs’ as armed cops called in | Two people were arrested following the incident in Middleport [2]

READ: Clubber ‘left for dead’ after being stabbed multiple times in Hanley street attack | Zain Kabir, of Tunstall, and Usama Wajid, of Burslem, have been jailed for a total of nine years [3] The coroner, Daniel Howe ruled both deaths as being a result of a road traffic collision. Evidence showed how there were multiple defects with the Subaru before the incident.

Specialist forensic vehicle examiner for Staffordshire police Simon Banks said: “Upon turning the ignition key, we did not see the ABS illuminate. Even if it is not at fault, it should illuminate before turning off once the check has been done. We investigated by removing the clear plastic panel.

“We found a tape was obscuring the illumination of the bulb for the ABS light and the airbag light, both of which were lit indicating a fault. Upon investigation, we could not find the clock spring in the steering wheel, meaning the airbag system was not functioning. The near-side front ABS sensor was missing, meaning there was no functioning ABS.

“There was also excessive corrosion to the front lower suspension wishbone, which had snapped. The rear seatbelts were unusable due to all three buckles beneath the seat bench. The ball joint was worn and the brake pedal anti-slip cover was missing.

There were no noted defects to the Citroen.” Evidence was then heard from forensic collision investigator PC Ian Chapman. PC Chapman noted that there was a depression in the ground of about an inch/inch and a half where a water inspection cover was.

He said that due to the failings of the ABS, there was little that the driver input could do. He said: “On August 8 2022, I was called to the A53 Buxton Road near the water treatment works to reports of an RTC. The incident involved three vehicles and two people, two of the drivers, had been declared dead.

On arrival, I noted the weather was clear and there were no obvious defects to the road. “The speed limit is national speed limit, however, it changes to 40mph at the top of the hill. Upon investigation of the Subaru, I noted the driver deceased in the front of the car.

The seat had been pushed forward and the airbag had not deployed. He was not wearing his seatbelt.

Flowers at the scene of the crash which killed Paul Adams and Jordan Patalong

“There was an inspection cover within the road surface that was sunken. It was not level with the road surface, it was depressed maybe an inch, inch and a half.

The Citroen C4 had extensive damage but had no obvious defects. Upon inspection, the wheels of the Subaru were locked, meaning any action taken would have been irrelevant because the wheels were locked in position.” A toxicology report was read out in court, which heard how neither man had any drugs or alcohol in their system.

A post-mortem for Mr Adams revealed his medical cause of death was multiple injuries, including chest and leg injuries. Mr Patalong’s medical cause of death was traumatic injuries to his chest and head. Recording his conclusions, Coroner Daniel Howe said: “I am going to start with Paul Adams.

Mr Adams, of Hendeley Court, Burton, was driving along the A53 on August 8 of last year when he collided with a Subaru. The Subaru had a corroded wishbone in the suspension which snapped causing the Subaru to drift into the opposite carriageway and collide with the car Mr Adams was driving. I conclude he died of an RTC.

“Jordan John Patalong of Portland Street, Leek, was driving along the A53 Buxton Road in a Subaru Impreza when he collided with a Citroen C4. His vehicle had a failure in the anti-lock braking system and the airbag did not deploy. My conclusion is one of an RTC.”

References

^ Leek (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^ Three hurt and chihuahua killed by ‘XL Bully dogs’ as armed cops called in | Two people were arrested following the incident in Middleport (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^ Clubber ‘left for dead’ after being stabbed multiple times in Hanley street attack | Zain Kabir, of Tunstall, and Usama Wajid, of Burslem, have been jailed for a total of nine years (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
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