Urgent warning for drivers after woman, 22, is killed in horror Mercedes crash – here’s all you need to know
AN urgent warning has been issued to drivers after a woman and two men were killed in three seperate horror crashes.
Josie Archer-Smith, 22, died after travelling in a Mercedes-Benz as it travelled along the M20 towards London.
The young hairdresser was a passenger in the vehicle when it slid out of control and smashed into a stationary vehicle in October 2020.
She was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering a traumatic brain injury.
Her two friends, including the driver, survived the crash.
Jordan Pry, 26, also lost his life in similar circumstances while driving along the M25.
Mr Pry lost control of his BMW near Clacket Lane Services in Surrey during heavy rain in April 2018.
In another incident, Ryan Taylor, 26, died after his car encountered surface water on the A390 in Cornwall.
Mr Taylor was driving to pick up his pregnant girlfriend from hospital on March 16, 2019.
His Jaguar collided with a Mazda after veering across road lanes.
The deaths have prompted three coroners to outline their concerns in Prevention of Future Death reports.
All three deaths were caused by drivers aquaplaning through stretches of motorway prone to flooding, MailOnline reports.
An inquest into Ms Archer-Smith’s death revealed 18 crashes had occurred in the area within five years during similar weather conditions.
Assistant coroner for Mid Kent and Medway James Dillon wrote in a report last month: “Investigating police from the Serious Collisions Investigation unit commented that they are aware that this location is a problem in heavy weather and have attended collisions at this location in the past.”
He added: “The crash location is at the bottom of an incline on the M20 motorway which normally would not cause an issue, however the road also has a camber which causes water to run across the carriageway rather than draining into either the central reservation of the drain on the hard shoulder.
“The police officer believes that it is when this heavy water is running across the carriageway that there is an issue which does require further investigation as to any remedial works that can be completed to prevent any further fatal/serious injury collisions.”
Richard Travers, Senior Coroner for Surrey, said there had been a “long history of wet-road related incidents at the location, including many aquaplaning events and a previous fatality” in the area where Mr Pry died.
Forensic investigators analysing Mr Taylor’s accident found there was “little or no warning of this sudden loss of control”.