Inquest reveals findings into death of man, 90, killed in A61 crash near Killinghall

A 90-year-old man who was struck by a car on the A61 between Harrogate [1] and Killinghall died from numerous serious injuries, an inquest has heard. A full inquest into the death of Lucjan Stefan Wilk [2] was held at Northallerton Coroners Court today (March 24). Mr Wilk died on November 7, 2023, after a Ford Fiesta collided with him on the road the previous day.

A named police officer, who gave evidence in court, said Mr Wilk had been to visit his wife in a care home in Harrogate on the day of the incident. He got on a bus to return home to the home where he lived with his daughter and her husband, shortly after 5.30pm on November 6. He got off at the northbound stop on the A61, near the junction with Knox Mill Lane.

The officer told the court Mr Wilk was wearing dark clothing at the time and he was seen on the bus's CCTV waiting on the pavement until it departed. The named driver of the Ford Fiesta (driver A) was travelling northbound on the A61 from Harrogate to Killinghall. The police officer said driver A was going between 28 and 30mph - the speed limit is 40mph.

Mr Wilk was looking to cross the road towards Knox Mill Lane and was holding a torch, the officer said, adding he then stepped into the northbound carriageway. A witness, who was driving southbound towards Harrogate, spotted a light in the middle of the road. The court heard it was dark outside as the clocks had recently gone back, but the torch light "did not appear to be moving".

Driver A had collided with Mr Wilk, who had hit the windscreen of the car. The coroner later found driver A's headlights were not set at the "optimum" setting. The officer was asked if he felt the 40mph speed limit on the stretch of road is suitable.

He told the court:

References

^ Harrogate (thestrayferret.co.uk)
^ the death of Lucjan Stefan Wilk (thestrayferret.co.uk)