Inquests into the deaths of a 62-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man following a police chase crash were opened and adjourned today.
Karen Joseph was critically injured in a crash in Stratford-upon-Avon and later died of multiple traumatic injuries, Coventry Coroner’s Court heard on Friday. Roman Kalas died as a result of traumatic head and chest injuries when his black Audi A3 collided with her Ford Puma on Warwick Road in Stratford-upon-Avon, on August 24.
Police pursuit details
Officers followed Mr Kalas’s car for around six minutes, but the vehicle failed to stop and made off in the direction of the A46, Warwickshire Police said. The car then travelled back towards Stratford on the A439 Warwick Road before the crash happened.
Mrs Joseph, from Stratford-upon-Avon, was taken to hospital with critical injuries, where she died last Friday. The opening of the inquest into Mr Kalas’s death heard the teenager was from the Sutton Coldfield area.
IOPC investigation
Both hearings, which were held an hour apart and lasted around five minutes each, were attended by lead investigator Patrick Cragg from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) but neither of the deceased’s families were present.
Mr Cragg told Senior Coroner for Coventry and Warwickshire Sean McGovern the IOPC investigation is expected to last six months and that the families of Mr Kalas and Mrs Joseph were aware of their involvement. He said investigators have retraced the route of the pursuit, identified potential CCTV footage and have gathered “detailed accounts” from officers involved.
A post-mortem examination was not carried out on Mrs Joseph, but Mr Cragg said doctors were satisfied her multiple traumatic injuries were consistent with a road traffic collision. In an earlier statement, the IOPC said a police officer in a single-crewed car began the pursuit after Mr Kalas failed to stop for police in Birmingham Road and the vehicle’s sirens were activated and emergency lights were on.
Inquest adjourned
Mr McGovern said he was unable to set a date for the full inquests to be heard due to the ongoing IOPC investigation. At the end of Mr Kalas’s hearing, he said: “I formally open an inquest into the death of Roman Kalas, it will be heard in due course. I offer my condolences to all those who have been affected by the death of Mr Kalas.”
At the end of Mrs Joseph’s hearing, he added: “I formally open the inquest into the death of Karen Joseph and adjourn it pending receipt of the IOPC report and other evidence. I send my personal condolences to the family and friends of Mrs Joseph.”
