Personal trainer killed as he 'tried to wave down cars' after a wedding

Tuesday 19th February 2019 20:03 EST
 

A husband who died after being hit by a van as he walked back from a wedding could have been trying to flag down a lift, an inquest heard.

In the early hours of August 13 last year Roop Thaker was walking along the B1383 Cambridge Road in Ugley towards Stansted Mountfitchet with his brother when he was struck by a Volkswagen Transporter van.

Emergency services rushed to the scene but sadly, his death was confirmed by paramedics at 3.35am. Police also investigated the incident.

A post-mortem was carried out on August 14 at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow by Dr Benjamin Swift who gave the cause of death as multiple injuries.

Toxicology was also taken which suggested that Mr Thacker had been intoxicated at the time of his death.

During an inquest into his death held at Seax House in Chelmsford today (Thursday, February 14), PC Brennan from Essex Police's Forensic Collision Investigation Unit gave evidence to the court.

PC Brennan arrived at the scene at 4.15am- just less than two hours after the incident initially occurred- and was briefed by other officers. She noted how the road surface was damp that night but was in good condition.

There was a footpath on one side of the road but there was no street lighting in the area and therefore visibility was limited to what was illuminated by the vehicle’s lights.

On examining the scene, PC Brennan found broken glass, vehicle debris and items belonging to a person, including a mobile phone, along the road.

There was also scratches and fabric scuffs and Mr Thaker was found further down the road with the vehicle stationary a little further along.

PC Brennan confirmed that the marks on the vehicle were consistent to that of hitting an upright pedestrian.

The officer explained how witnesses suggested that Mr Thaker had been trying to wave down passing vehicles while his brother was on the footpath. However the vehicle struck Mr Thaker and passed over him before coming to a stop further along the road.

No alcohol was detected in the driver of the van and no defects were found with the vehicle or the environment.

The inquest also heard how the time of night, lack of lighting and footpath all would have decreased the expectation of pedestrians on the road.

PC Brennan concluded: “There was no realistic chance the driver could have identified, reacted to and avoided Roop Thaker.”

Mr Thaker was a personal trainer from Streatham in south London who worked at a gym in Stratford.

Mr Thaker also received a master's degree in pharmacy at King's College in London before becoming a personal trainer in 2015.

Senior Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray concluded that Mr Thaker had died as a result of a road traffic collision and expressed sympathy to the family on “these very sad circumstances.”


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