Death ‘was instant’ for Ribble Valley crash teenager (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Death ‘was instant’ for Ribble Valley crash teenager

12:00pm Thursday 25th October 2012 in News By Simone Yates

THE family of a Ribble Valley teenager killed in a horror crash were told that her death was instantaneous, an inquest heard.

Georgina Collinson died just weeks after her 19th birthday when her silver Peugeot 206 collided into a wall in Lower Road, Longridge.

Her distraught parents and grandparents were told the teenager wasn’t wearing a seatbelt at the time of her death and died from ‘catastrophic head injuries’.

The inquest at Ribble Valley Coroner’s Court was told the former Longridge High School pupil set off from her home in Stoneygate Lane at 11pm on May 30 to pick up her mobile phone which she had left at a friend’s house.

Speaking at the inquest, Georgina’s mum, Caroline Collinson said that her daughter had been driving for 12 months since passing her test.

She said: “I was occasionally a passenger in the car, I felt very safe with her and she was a good driver.

“She was familiar with the road and the route. Before she set off I said to her that she could get her phone back in the morning but she wanted to go.”

Police were called to Spade Mill Reservoir in Longridge following reports of a crash at 11.20pm.

The court was told that PC Paul Falloon was first on the scene.

Speaking at the inquest he said: “I saw the female was partially ejected and when I got closer, I said ‘hello, can you hear me?’ I checked her pulse on both wrists for one minute and I could not find a pulse.”

Reading a statement from the pathologist, Coroner Michael Singleton said that toxicology tests were carried out and Miss Collinson didn’t have any alcohol in her system.

He said: “Samples of blood were taken and there was no alcohol — nothing. The cause of her death was a head injury.”

The inquest heard that the popular teenager, who was a catering assistant and had worked at Barton Grange, died instantly when she failed to negotiate a left turn.

The road has been described as an accident hotspot by nearby residents, and Mr Singleton said that he will apply to Lancashire County Council in regards to signage in the area.

Mr Singleton, ruling Georgina’s death an accident, said: “I will write to Lancashire County Council inviting them to consider better signage on the road.

“My heart-felt sympathies are with the family. As a parent I can’t begin to imagine the trauma and anguish that you have gone through.”

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