‘One of a kind’ GP died in three-vehicle Devon car crash

A woman who died in a three-vehicle crash in north Devon has been named as 64-year-old 'one of a kind' GP Susannah Harris. An inquest into her death recently opened at Exeter Coroner's Court. During the short hearing it was confirmed that Dr Harris, who was divorced and lived in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, died on the A361 north Devon link road, near Bish Mill, South Molton, on January 14[1].

The medical cause of her death was multiple traumatic injuries sustained in a road traffic collision. Assistant coroner Deborah Archer said: "The circumstances of the death are Ms Harris was the driver of a grey Peugeot Combi involved in a three-vehicle collision on the A361 in north Devon. Her death was sadly confirmed at the scene."[2][3]

The inquest was adjourned for a full hearing to be held at a later date. DevonLive previously reported how emergency services were called to the scene at around 3.15pm and a full road closure was put in place. The crash involved two cars and a van.

The driver of a Nissan car, a woman in her 40s from Torquay[4], suffered a serious leg injury and was airlifted to Royal Devon and Exeter[5] Hospital. The road was shut for around nine hours as investigation and recovery work took place. Following the incident, police appealed to the public for information.

An online tribute has since been posted online by her family. It read: "Loved and loving daughter of Alison and the late Anthony, mother of Tom and Harry, partner of Daniel, sister of Caroline and Jessica, mother-in-law of Maggy and Cimone, granny of Sami, aunty, colleague and friend." Her son Tom added: "I know her loss will be felt by a great many people whose lives she touched with her openness and generosity (and her special kind of chaos!).

She was a one-of-a-kind woman, who never had any time yet always had time for others, who had a thousand madcap schemes and spinning plates, who raised a loving family and upheld a long and successful career as a doctor."

References

1. ^ A361 north Devon link road, near Bish Mill, South Molton, on January 14 (www.devonlive.com)
2. ^ north Devon (www.devonlive.com)
3. ^ sadly confirmed at the scene." (www.devonlive.com)
4. ^ Torquay (www.devonlive.com)
5. ^ Exeter (www.devonlive.com)