Retired prison officer, 81, died after being hit by car outside caravan while on Shropshire holiday with wife
Police arrested man, 48, and 13-year-old girl after collision
A retired prison officer died after being hit by a car while sitting outside a caravan on holiday with his wife, an inquest was told.
David John Ratcliffe, aged 81, was with wife Pauline at Mile Bank Farm, Whitchurch on April 25 this year when a Volvo XC60 hit both of them after ploughing through fences and several caravans at around 10.45am.
Police arrested a 48-year-old man and a 13-year-old girl at the scene on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Both were released on bail pending further enquiries and remain under investigation, according to West Mercia Police.
The vehicle also hit the awning and caravan Mr and Mrs Ratcliffe were sitting outside.
Mr Ratcliffe suffered serious chest injuries, numerous fractures and internal injuries, and was airlifted to Royal Stoke University Hospital with a life-threatening prognosis.
Despite extensive medical treatment, he died on Monday, May 11 at 1.45pm. Mrs Ratcliffe identified her husband’s body.
Mr Ratcliffe was born in 1944 in Hall Green, Birmingham and lived with his wife in Deerpark Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire.
John Ellery, senior coroner for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, opened an inquest into Mr Ratcliffe’s death at Shropshire Coroner’s Court, Guildhall, Shrewsbury.
He adjourned it to September 29.
After the crash, PC Mark Hobden, from West Mercia Police’s serious collision investigation unit, said: “Officers are carrying out a number of enquiries to understand what happened relating to this collision, which left two people seriously injured.
“We know there were a number of people in and around the caravan park at the time, and we are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or seen the vehicle involved beforehand.
“Even the smallest piece of information could help us build a clearer picture of the circumstances leading up to the incident.
“If you were in the area around 10.45am on Saturday, or have any footage that may assist our enquiries, please get in touch as soon as possible.”
Anyone with information or relevant footage is asked to contact PC Hobden by emailing [email protected] quoting incident 144i of Saturday, April 25.