Coroner to push for prison road to be made safer

A prevention of future deaths report will be issued by a coroner after a man died while crossing the road outside the prison where he worked

Phillip Tetley was struck on the A620 Straight Mile outside HMP Ranby, near Retford, Nottinghamshire, on 1 December.

Assistant coroner Nathanael Hartley concluded that for "reasons unknown", the 42-year-old had stepped in front of an oncoming car while waiting to cross.

But he said he would write to the county council and its highways company Via due to concerns over the safety for staff and visitors having to cross the 50mph road and delays in installing road signs.

The inquest, at Nottingham's Council House, heard tributes to the "exceptionally generous" man, for who "helping people was simply part of who he was".

"Phil's death has affected not just one person but devastated a whole family," relatives said.

The hearing was told the prison has two car parks, a main one and an overspill, on either side of the road.

Crash investigators told the court the road was busier than normal due to a nearby diversion and the morning weather was "murky, drizzly and dull".

Tetley was waiting to cross with two colleagues when he stepped into the road as a car passed.

He was hit and then thrown into the path of another car coming in the opposite direction.

Forensic collision investigator Fiona Wilson said: "For both drivers in this incident a collision was totally unavoidable

"When Phillip stepped into the road, CCTV seems to show him looking at traffic in the other lane.

"It may be he looked past the oncoming car and thought there was a bigger gap in the traffic."

Asked by Tetley's family whether a pedestrian could have avoided the crash, Wilson said: "Crossing a road is inherently dangerous and that is increased on 50mph roads.

"In my opinion it is very dangerous to cross a 50mph road as a pedestrian and crossings are designed to mitigate this."

The hearing was told the prison had raised concerns about staff safety on the road in August 2023 but the highways authority said there was not enough evidence to support calming measures.

Following Tetley's death Via East Midlands - the council-owned highways management company - told investigators two pairs of warning signs had been installed at the scene.

But during the hearing it was confirmed only one set had in fact been put up on the road.

A petition calling for a pedestrian crossing to be installed along between the two car parks attracted more than 4,000 signatures.

Possible plans for such measures are currently being considered by the council.

Assistant coroner Nathanael Hartley said Tetley had stepped out into the traffic for "reasons unknown" and the vehicles involved had no opportunity to stop.

He acknowledged that concerns over the road had already been raised but given the rejection of measures in 2023, the delay in fitting both sets of warning signs, increased crossings due to limited space in the main car park and an uncertain timetable over any further traffic calming measures, he felt sending a Prevention of Future Deaths Notice to Via and the county council was justified.

Both Via and the county council have been approached for comment.

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