Yahoo News Parents of girl, 15, killed in crash hit out at 'appalling' police investigation
The parents of a 15-year-old girl who died after being hit by a BMW driver have branded the police investigation following the incident 'appalling'.
Katelyn Dawson died in hospital in January 2018 when a BMW car ploughed into a bus stop in Wakefield Road in Huddersfield, Yorkshire Live reports. The teenager was described as 'confident and happy' young woman who loved dancing.
Yesterday (April 11), following a seven-day inquest, senior coroner Martin Fleming concluded that it was 'more likely than not' that the BMW driver, Richard Brooke, had suffered a temporarily loss of consciousness due to fainting at the wheel. He said he had felt unwell and had 'tunnel vision' and could not remember what happened after that.
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No criminal charges were brought against Mr Brooke following the incident. But Katelyn's parents Angela and Colin Dawson said the investigation after the crash was 'appalling' and that police had 'failed' their daughter.
West Yorkshire Police said all evidence was reviewed in the case. Following the hearing, Angela and Colin released a statement outside Bradford Coroners' Court.
They said: "It has taken six years and three months for her inquest to be heard. It has been extremely difficult and harrowing for us to sit through the seven day inquest. We have seen and heard things that no parent should have to.
"Given the limitations of the evidence presented, we understand the difficulty the coroner has had in reaching his decision. But what we cannot understand or accept is the appalling way in which Katelyn's death has been investigated by West Yorkshire Police.
"After two investigations there was still crucial evidence detailed at the inquest that the police had not looked into properly. West Yorkshire Police failed Katelyn and this is something that will haunt us for the rest of our lives."
In response, a West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Katelyn's death in January 2018 was clearly a dreadful incident and an absolute tragedy for her family and friends. An investigation of the circumstances of the collision was undertaken over the course of a number of months by officers from the Major Collision Enquiry Team.
"The investigation was also subject of a further separate review at the family's request. All evidence from the original investigation and the subsequent review was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration.
"After a review of all evidence, a decision was made by the CPS not to bring any criminal charges in the matter and following this decision, all evidence from the investigation was then shared with the Coroner's Office to be considered during the course of the inquest."
The CPS declined to prosecute the BMW driver after medical evidence concluded he had fainted at the wheel.
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