The parents of a teenager killed by a car as she waited for a school bus have slammed an ‘appalling’ police investigation into her death after a coroner ruled the driver probably fainted at the wheel.
Quantity surveyor Richard Brooke, 57, escaped prosecution after an investigation found he lost consciousness and was not in control of his actions when his BMW left the road and smashed into schoolgirl Katelyn Dawson, 15, in January 2018.
Today an inquest in Bradford ended with coroner Martin Fleming recording a narrative verdict, stating it was ‘more likely than not’ that Brooke fainted at the wheel.
After the hearing a statement from her parents Angela and Colin Dawson said Katelyn had been ‘failed’ by police for an inadequate investigation.
Katelyn Dawson (pictured) was waiting for a bus when Richard Brooke’s car mounted the pavement in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire and hit her on January 10, 2018
Katelyn’s parents Colin and Angela Dawson have slammed the ‘appalling’ police investigation today after a coroner ruled the driver probably fainted at the wheel
Mr Brooke, 52, has never been prosecuted following the smash in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, much to the dismay of Katelyn’s parents Colin, 47, and Angela, 50
They said: ‘Given the limitations of the evidence presented, we understand the difficulty that 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 in to properly.
‘West Yorkshire Police failed Katelyn and that is something that will haunt us for the rest of our lives.’
Brooke told the hearing that he had been returning from dropping his son off at school on the morning of the crash, and though he had been suffering from flu-like symptoms including a wheezy chest, felt able to drive and planned to work from home for the rest of the day.
He said he began to feel sick and dizzy before his vision clouded and his body ‘fell forward.’ The motorist said he had no recollection of the crash and regained consciousness after the impact.
The inquest heard he had been prescribed antibiotics for a respiratory infection three weeks earlier. He only started taking the tablets two days before the crash when he felt worse.
A family picture of Katelyn and her parents Angela and Colin who have been fighting for justice since their daughter was killed
Tributes left at the Moldgreen bus stop where Katelyn was killed when Mr Brooke’s car came off the road in 2018
The site of the crash shows the bus stop shelter that Katelyn was waiting at lying in the road surrounded by shattered glass
The teenager, who had only six months left at the school, was pronounced dead at 6.15pm that day after being rushed to hospital following the accident at 8.30am.
A witness Alison Ross, who was driving behind Brooke, said he ‘shot straight through’ red traffic lights.
‘I seriously thought he was drunk or something, it was really weird.’ Adding that his car ‘took off like a rocket.’
Katelyn Dawson (pictured) was waiting for a bus when Mr Brooke’s car mounted the pavement in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire and hit her on January 10, 2018
Colin and Angela Dawson pictured leaving Bradford Magistrates Court in 2020
Mrs Ross told the hearing how she no longer drives down that road after seeing the car head straight for the bus stop, saying ‘I can close my eyes and see everything, I’ll never forget what happened. The scream I heard I will never get out of my dreams.’
Katelyn’s parents and sister left the room when harrowing CCTV footage of the crash was shown in court.
Her father Colin, 51, was asked about the impact of her death and said: ‘Devastation. I don’t think we can ever put into words what it’s done to us mentally, physically. It’s been hard. We’ll never get over it, never, and we shouldn’t have to.’
The Crown Prosecution Service accepted the car was being driven dangerously but the motorist was not criminally responsible for her death due to suffering a fainting episode and losing consciousness.
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police 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.’