A coroner has submitted a formal report asking the Government to look into driving licence regulations after the death of a baby boy who died when his pushchair was struck by a vehicle on a Cambridgeshire footpath

This follows the tragic death of five-month-old Louis Thorold who died of "multiple traumatic injuries" on January 22, 2021, alongside the A10 near Landbeach. The baby's mother Rachael was seriously injured in the incident.

It later transpired that the driver of the vehicle that caused the crash, Shelagh Robertson, aged 75, of Waterbeach, had undiagnosed dementia at the time of the incident.

She later appeared in court and received a supervision order after she was found not guilty by reason of insanity of causing death by careless driving.

A Prevention of Future Deaths Report has been compiled by Simon Milburn, area coroner, for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, who presided over the inquest of Louis Thorold

He states that he commenced an investigation into the baby's death on January 24, 2021, which concluded at the end of the inquest on July 26, 2023.

The report has been sent to Mark Harper, secretary of state for the Department of Transport, and also Gillian Beasley, the chief executive of Cambridgeshire County Council.

Mr Milburn says during the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise for concern and he believes there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken.   

In the report he says: "During the inquest, I heard evidence that drivers who reach 70 years of age, and are therefore required to reapply for their driving licence at that point (and thereafter every three years) do so via an online self-certification process.

"There is no [requirement] for independent medical scrutiny or input unless there is an issue which is specifically drawn to the attention of a medical practitioner.

"In this case, one of the drivers involved in the road traffic collision was driving with undiagnosed dementia which affected their cognitive ability to perceive hazards on the road.

"I am concerned that if drivers beyond the age of 70 continue to drive without independent medical scrutiny of their continued ability to drive then there is a risk of deaths occurring in similar circumstances."

Mr Milburn also raised concerns, which he has directed towards Cambridgeshire County Council.

He says: "During the inquest, I heard detailed evidence of the circumstances of a road traffic collision at the A10 Ely Road, Landbeach at its junction with the Carr Dyke Road on 22.01.21. I also heard that subsequent to this incident the speed limit at the location was reduced to 40mph.

"Louis’ father gave evidence at the inquest stating that he understood that this particular location fell within CCC’s Settlement Policy for a 30mph speed limit.

"I am therefore concerned that there is a risk of death occurring in similar circumstances if it is correct that CCC’s Settlement Policy is not being correctly applied."

Mr Milburn has stated that both bodies have 56 days to respond and, any response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise, they must provide an explanation as to why no action is proposed.

The circumstances of Louis's death

Louis died at 5.01pm on January 22, 2021 at Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge.

A postmortem examination revealed that he died as a result of multiple severe traumatic injuries.

At around 3.51pm earlier that day, Shelagh Robertson was travelling north on the A10 Ely Road at Landbeach and turned right across the southbound carriageway where her vehicle struck an approaching van.

The van left the carriageway to the nearside and as a result of the impact, struck Louis and his mother as she pushed him in his pushchair along the pavement.

The van came to rest in a ditch on the far side of the pavement trapping Louis underneath.

He was extricated by a passerby and treated at the scene. Sadly, Louis went into cardiac arrest and despite prolonged attempts at resuscitation and a subsequent transfer to hospital, he died of his injuries.