Dad behaving ‘abnormally’ died after HGV crash but family will ‘always have questions’

A heartbroken family said they will always have questions after a dad-of-one died following a crash involving an HGV. Pedestrian Martin Gregory, 43, instantly died of a catastrophic head injury when he was hit by the fully laden vehicle[1] travelling eastbound on Princess Way in Seaforth soon after it had departed from the docks. Mr Gregory, described by his family as a devoted father who "always had a funny story to tell"[2], was pronounced dead shortly after 11.30pm on January 11 2023.

An inquest into his death heard yesterday, Tuesday, April 8 that the dad-of-one was seen by eyewitnesses behaving "abnormally" and "running in and out of traffic"[3]. Determining Mr Gregory's cause of death as a road traffic collision, Sefton[4], Knowsley[5] and St Helens[6] senior coroner Julie Goulding said "there are still a lot of unanswered questions...but our jurisdiction is how, not why", while his dad Martin Sr replied: "We will always have questions." ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE: Schoolgirl, 16, thought she had a sickness bug until doctors did blood tests[7] READ MORE: 'Snoring builder' first sign family's dream was turning into nightmare[8] The inquest, held at Bootle[9] Town Hall, heard how eyewitnesses reported that Mr Gregory, who worked as a painter and decorator, was spotted on the dual carriageway in the minutes before his death with his dog.

Detective Sergeant Kurt Timpson, from Merseyside Police's matrix serious collision investigation unit[10], told the inquest that the force had spoken with a number of witnesses, although only one reported seeing the crash itself. The inquest was told eyewitnesses Deborah Allen and her husband Frederick heard Mr Gregory shout: "I looked after you and now you are hurting me". They told officers they knew him as "Martie from the local area".

The inquest heard Joshua Smith, who was driving westbound on the road, reported vehicles had to break as they approached Mr Gregory. Colin Toole, who was in the car behind Mr Smith, said Mr Gregory moved towards his car [11]and was acting "manic and not in control". Local resident Paul Parkes added that he heard Mr Gregory shouting "what have I done to you b*******", before he lost sight of him and heard a "loud thud type noise".

ADVERTISEMENT Mr Parkes told police that he didn't think the sound was Mr Gregory colliding with the HGV and reported he later heard a "screeching from the pit of the stomach", which is believed to have been the dog being hit by a different vehicle. Witness Carl Mullen said he saw Mr Gregory climbing over the central reservation barrier and shouting "come on", before he stepped into the path of the HGV.

Detective Sergeant Timpson told the inquest the conditions on the road were wet following heavy rainfall. He added the street lights were lit but visibility was bad. The driver of the HGV did not stop at the scene but spoke to his boss at around 11.53pm when he arrived at a storage unit near Burscough and said he thought he had hit a fox or a dog.

Yellow and red floral tributes on Princess Way ,Seaforth. -Credit:Liverpool Echo

Police traced the driver to the unit and performed a road side drug and alcohol test, but none was detected.

The driver, from Skelmersdale[12], was arrested but the inquest heard the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)[13] determined there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him on the charges of causing death by careless or dangerous driving[14]. A letter sent to the court from the CPS said: "There was not enough evidence to prove Martin Gregory's death was caused by the manner of the [HGV driver's] driving." However, the driver was charged with failing to stop at the scene and failing to report the crash[15]. ADVERTISEMENT

The inquest heard he was acquitted of the former charge, but was convicted of failing to report the incident. However, following an appeal at Liverpool Crown Court[16] the prosecution said it was not something they could continue to protest after it was heard the police spoke to the driver within 45 minutes of the incident. A post-mortem was carried out by Home Office pathologist Dr Jonathan Medcalf who determined the dad's cause of death was due to trauma to the brain following the severe head injury.

The post-mortem showed Mr Gregory had smoked cannabis recently, with his recorded THC levels being 24mg per litre of blood. The inquest heard the legal drug driving limit was 2mg per litre of blood. Coroner Ms Goulding said: "Something was going terribly wrong, whether it be from the cannabis or a mental health crisis.

It is not my job to speculate. I make my findings on the balance of possibilities." She added it was "impossible to know" why Mr Gregory acted in the manner he did and said there were still answered questions, but acknowledged his history of mental health and added cannabis might have affected his actions. She concluded: "With the information available, Mr Gregory died in a fatal collision with a fully laden heavy goods vehicle when he entered the carriageway on a dark, wet January night."

Addressing the several members of Mr Gregory's family who attended the inquest, including his dad, step dad, sister and mum of his son, Ms Goulding said: "It's a terrible loss of life in the middle of his life. He is clearly missed and loved. That is how he should be remembered instead of his tragic death."

In a statement issued through Merseyside Police[17], Mr Gregory's family previously said: "Martin was a loving son, brother, uncle and father. He always had a funny story to tell and had a mischievous sense of humour. Martin was devoted to his only child, who he spent most weekends with.

As a family we are devastated at losing Martin in such tragic circumstances and he will be greatly missed by us all."

References

1. ^ Martin Gregory, 43, instantly died of a catastrophic head injury when he was hit by the fully laden vehicle (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
2. ^ his family as a devoted father who "always had a funny story to tell" (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
3. ^ behaving "abnormally" and "running in and out of traffic" (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
4. ^ Sefton (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
5. ^ Knowsley (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
6. ^ St Helens (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
7. ^ Schoolgirl, 16, thought she had a sickness bug until doctors did blood tests (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
8. ^ 'Snoring builder' first sign family's dream was turning into nightmare (uk.news.yahoo.com)
9. ^ Bootle (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
10. ^ Merseyside Police's matrix serious collision investigation unit (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
11. ^ Mr Gregory moved towards his car (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
12. ^ Skelmersdale (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
13. ^ Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
14. ^ causing death by careless or dangerous driving (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
15. ^ charged with failing to stop at the scene and failing to report the crash (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
16. ^ Liverpool Crown Court (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
17. ^ Merseyside Police (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)