Belt may have saved victim, says coroner

A nine-year-old Shropshire girl who died after a car crash would probably have survived if she had been wearing a seatbelt, an inquest heard. South Shropshire coroner Anthony Sibcy gave his verdict yesterday.

He said if Marcia Dale, from Longville, near Much Wenlock, had been wearing a seatbelt that day an inquest would probably not have been necessary.

Marcia's mother, Catharine Dale, was driving on the B4371 Church Stretton to Much Wenlock road on May 31 last year when her car collided with a Land Rover and left the road before hitting a tree and rolling into a field.

Marcia was flown to hospital but died from her injuries. An inquest at Ludlow Magistrates Court heard from Constable Lois Ellis, car crash investigator for West Mercia Police, on Monday. She told the court Mrs Dale was wearing a seatbelt, but there was no evidence any other seatbelts had been in use at the time of the collision.

Yesterday Mrs Dale told the inquest her daughter had been sitting behind her.

She said she did not know whether Marcia had been wearing a seatbelt but that it would have been usual for her to do so.

Mrs Dale said she lost control of the car going around a right hand bend.

Witnesses heard Mrs Dale saying the brakes had not worked, but she said she did not remember this.

The inquest heard she had just collected the car after new brake pads were fitted.

Mr Sibcy recorded a narrative verdict, saying Marcia died after she was injured while not wearing a seatbelt.

He said he was not persuaded that discolouration of the brake discs or the possibility of a problem with the car's handbrake had contributed to Mrs Dale's problems controlling her car.

A statement on behalf of Mr and Mrs Dale read: "Mr and Mrs Dale are very disappointed that the coroner did not find that the brakes played a significant role in the incident and they are considering the matter further."