Lorry that killed Paula Jurek had faulty indicator inquest told - CPS dropped case against driver

The inquest into the death of cyclist Paula Jurek yesterday ruled that she was crushed to death by a lorry with a faulty indicator at a busy junction.

Paula Jurek, a travel and tourism student at London Metropolitan University, was hit by a lorry driven by Barry Roe as he turned left  at the junction of St Pancras Way and Camden Road, London on April 5 2011.

Witnesses said they did not see the lorry indicate before turning, but CCTV footage was unclear.

The vehicle was later found to have a loose bulb in one of its indicators. Road traffic collision investigator Paul Deneyes told the inquest: “The bulb wasn’t fitted correctly.”

He told the inquest that the fault was intermittent and it could have been working when the driver checked it. He also said it was possible Paula Jurek had been in the vehicle’s blind spot when Barry Roe turned into her.

Barry Roe told the inquest: “I did not see [Paula] prior to the collision. I checked my mirrors. I indicated. I did not know about the defect with the indicator. I checked it that morning.”

Recording a verdict of death by road traffic collision, Deputy Coroner Selena Lynch said: “I have come to no conclusion about whether or not the indicators were activated by the driver.”

She said: “I am sorry for the family’s loss and that it has taken so long to come to this conclusion.”

CPS dropped case in February

It emerged at the inquest that Barry Roe had been charged with causing death by careless driving, but the Crown Prosecution Service had dropped the case in February.

Days before the trial was due to start the case was discontinued because the CPS offered no evidence, and new witness testimony emerged about Paula Jurek’s position on the road.

Her mother Iwona, father Zbigniew and sister Magda travelled from Poland to be at the inquest. They said they only found out there that the case had been dropped.

Iwona Jurek said: “We’re shocked and angry. There has been no communication. We have been waiting for two years. We want to take this further. Justice would make the matter easier to take.”

The CPS said: “Due to new evidence coming to light very shortly before the trial we had to make the decision extremely promptly. We wrote letters to the parents and sister explaining our reasons. These were sent to police to send to the family on 23 February.”

The Metropolitan Police said: “We have continued to liaise with the family to keep them updated with the status of our inquiries. We apologise for any distress the drawn-out nature of this investigation may have caused.”

Delays

The inquest into Paula Jarek's death was originally scheduled for November 10 2011 but was delayed while authorities decided whether or not to charge Barry Roe.