Mum and son died when lorry ploughed into broken down car, inquest hears

A tragic mum and her toddler son sadly died in a broken down car that burst into flames after being hit by a lorry, an inquest has heard. Nicola Courtney and three-year-old Lucas Jase Page, from Scunthorpe, had been visiting her mum in Cleethorpes when the horror incident took place on the A180 near Immingham at 9pm on March 10 last year.

The 34-year-old and her son were found in the back of the car, which had been smashed into the dual carriageway’s central reservation by the HGV before bursting into flames. Assistant coroner Jayne Wilkes confirmed the mother died from extensive burns and her son suffered traumatic multiple injuries.

At the inquest, it was revealed the mother had two-and-a-half times the legal limit of alcohol in her system. There were 215mg of alcohol in 100mls of blood, the legal limit being 80mg. Drivers in the westbound carriageway said they saw the broken-down car and had to swerve because it had no lights on.

Nicola and her son were reportedly meant to stay at Nicola’s mother in Cleethorpes that night, but for some reason she left and the tragedy occurred on their way home.

Nicola’s blue Ford Focus came to a stop in the centre of the nearside lane and was not displaying any lights. One driver witnessed the mum get out of her car and walk towards the passenger side of the vehicle, leaving the passenger door open as several vehicles narrowly avoided colliding with the car, reports Hull Live.

Sadly it was then hit by a Renault articulated goods vehicle. The impact of the collision pushed the vehicle into the central reservation where it burst into flames killing both mum and son.

Due to the extensive fire damage, it was not possible to confirm whether their vehicle had any mechanical defect which would have caused it to stop where it did. The assistant coroner said there was no fault found in the Renault HGV or the manner of its driving.

Giving a narrative conclusion into the deaths, Miss Wilkes said: “Lucas Jase Page died from traumatic multiple injuries in a vehicle fire on a live lane of the A180 dual carriageway, in the back of his mother’s stationary and unlit car. He had remained in the vehicle with his mother when it was hit by an HGV lorry, causing extensive damage to the car before it burst into flames.”

She concluded Nicola Ann Courtney died on a live lane of the A180 in her stationary and unlit car. She left the driving seat and was in the rear of the vehicle next to her three-year-old son when the vehicle was hit by an HGV lorry. “Her high blood alcohol level would have contributed to her death,” the assistant coroner concluded.

Following the tragedy, friends posted tributes to the devoted mother and her much-loved son. One said: “This world is a very sad one we live in. One of my best friends and her little boy are going to be missed so much by so many.”

Another tribute read: “Absolutely devastated to find out my dear friend Nicola Courtney and baby Lucas passed away! You never know the last time you’re going to speak to someone! I’m heartbroken. You will be missed.”

Others passed their best wishes onto Nicola’s other children, who are now without a mum. A message read: “What a terrible accident. I am so sorry to hear this and RIP to Nicola and Lucas.