Mum and son, aged three, killed when lorry smashed into their car which had broken down

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-Credit: (Image: Humberside Police / SWNS)


A mother and her young son were killed when their car, which had broken down, was hit by a lorry.

Nicola Courtney, 34, from Kirkby Road, Scunthorpe, and her three-year-old son Lucas were visiting family in Cleethorpes when the accident occurred at 9pm on March 10 last year.

An inquest into their deaths revealed that their blue Ford Focus was struck by an articulated lorry travelling in the same direction on the A180 near Immingham. The impact forced the car into the central reservation and caused a fire to break out. Both Nicola and Lucas were found in the back seat of the vehicle.

Read more: Baby died after exhausted mum sent home just four hours after birth

The inquest, held in Scunthorpe, heard from assistant coroner Jayne Wilkes that Nicola died from extensive burns while Lucas suffered multiple traumatic injuries. Following the fatal crash, Humberside Police appealed for witnesses to assist with their investigation.

Witnesses driving on the westbound carriageway reported seeing the broken down car and having to swerve to avoid it as it had no lights on. The inquest also revealed that Nicola had two and a half times the legal limit of alcohol in her blood at the time of the accident, reports Grimsby Live.

An inquest has revealed the tragic circumstances leading to the death of a mother and her son on a dual carriageway near Stallingborough. Nicola and her son Lucas were set to stay with Nicola's mother in Cleethorpes, but for reasons unknown, she left.

Their blue Ford Focus broke down in the nearside lane without lights, posing a hazard that was narrowly missed by several drivers until it was struck by a Renault HGV. The collision propelled the car into the central reservation where it caught fire.

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Due to severe fire damage, investigators could not determine if there was a mechanical fault that caused the vehicle to stop. The assistant coroner found no issues with the Renault HGV or its driver's conduct.

Assistant Coroner Miss Wilkes concluded that "Lucas Jase Page died from traumatic multiple injuries in a vehicle fire on a live lane of the A180 dual carriageway, in the back of his mother's stationary and unlit car. He had remained in the vehicle with his mother when it was hit by an HGV lorry, causing extensive damage to the car before it burst into flames."

The inquest heard that Nicola Ann Courtney died on a live lane of the A180, while she was inside her stationary, unlit vehicle. She had vacated the drivers seat and was at the back next to her three year old son when an HGV lorry collided with the car.

"Her high blood alcohol level would have contributed to her death," concluded the assistant coroner.

In light of the heartbreaking event, tributes poured in for the dearly missed mother and her beloved son. A friend expressed their sorrow, commenting: "This world is a very sad one we live in. One of my bestest friends and her little boy are going to be missed so much by so many."

Another tribute to the pair stated: "Absolutely devastated to find out my dear friend Nicola Courtney and baby Lucas passed away! You literally never know the last time you're going to speak to someone is! I'm heartbroken. You will be missed."

Condolences and heartfelt wishes were offered to Nicola's surviving children, now left motherless. One condolence message shared: "What a terrible accident. I am so sorry to hear this and RIP to Nicola and Lucas."