Lapse of concentration led to student’s death

SORELY MISSED: Michaela Murray

A FUN-LOVING student who was killed in a tragic road accident may have lost concentration for a “split-second”, an inquest heard.

Pedestrian Michaela Murray (20) was hit by a VW Golf in Hollinwood Avenue, Chadderton, on November 20, 2010, as she made her way to Spindles in Oldham, where she held a part-time job in a perfume shop to pay her way through her Salford University degree.

The former Oldham Sixth Form College student, who lived in New Moston, died later that evening at North Manchester General Hospital. Scores of tributes were left at the crash scene near Owler Lane.

Consultant pathologist Dr Mark Bradgate confirmed Michaela died from multiple head injuries.

Ian Allen, from Middleton, was driving his nephew Scott Darcy to a medical appointment in Gorton when they witnessed the accident.

He told the hearing how he had noticed Michaela at the central reservation on Hollinwood Avenue, waiting for the traffic to clear. She had crossed in front of him in the 10ft gap between his car and the one in front.

But as he glanced in his wing mirror he saw a VW Golf coming just as she decided to run across the second lane of traffic — but instinctively shut his eyes so as not to see the accident.

His nephew, who was sitting in the passenger seat, told the court he’d had trouble sleeping since witnessing the accident.

The pair rushed to help her and tried to contact family members on her mobile phone, which she had been holding.

Special-needs worker Ruth McNeill — a qualified first-aider - had been travelling home from work and stopped to help until paramedics arrived.

The driver of the Golf, Samantha Berry (32), of Sefton Road, Middleton, told police she could see stationary cars waiting to turn right in the outside lane, so pulled into the left lane.

“She (Michaela) wasn’t at the crossing. She wasn’t looking at me. She was running. She was looking at the stationary car,” Miss Berry said.

“When I knew she was going to come out in front of me I started braking. I couldn’t have stopped, I couldn’t have swerved. I don’t feel there’s anything different I could have done on that day.”

Inspector Paul Rowe said the Golf had not been travelling in excess on 28mph at the point of impact and that the deceased would not have been in the road for more than 1.8 seconds prior to impact.

The speed limit on that stretch of road is 40mph.

Coroner Simon Nelson recorded a verdict of misadventure.

He said Michaela had “tremendous qualities” and it was clear her family were proud she had received a posthumous degree with honours in English literature and journalism.

He said: “I don’t think the lapse in concentration was anything more than a split-second. If nothing else, this case demonstrates how much one needs to concentrate when crossing a busy thoroughfare.

“I accept she would not have predicted or seen Miss Berry’s vehicle move from the outside lane and when she entered the road she simply did not have time to react.”

Speaking after the inquest, Louise Wilcox, the Murray family’s solicitor said: “The family are devastated at the loss of Michaela and are very relieved that the inquest is over.

“They would like to thank Mr Nelson for the sensitive way he dealt with the inquiry, but unfortunately nothing will bring Michaela back.”

The case had previously been referred to the CPS who did not advise any criminal proceedings.