Coroner calls for new signs at fatal Ilkley crash site

The fatal collision happened as Mr Goater was driving on Moor Road, near Ilkley, in July 2021

A coroner has called for warning signs to be installed near to where a 25-year-old man was killed in a crash.

Kyle Goater died after his car hit a RAC breakdown van, which had stopped to turn into what a report described as a "layby", and another vehicle on Moor Road near Ilkley in July 2021.

Coroner Angela Brocklehurst said had the area been signposted "it is likely" Mr Goater would have slowed down.

But Bradford Council said the area in question was not a designated layby.

According to Ms Brocklehurst's prevention of future deaths report, Mr Goater had been travelling away from Ilkley towards Menston.

She said that as he crested the brow of a hill he collided with the RAC van before a car travelling in the opposite direction collided with the two vehicles.

Bradford Council said the road's speed limit had been reduced from 50mph to 30mph since the incident

Mr Goater was unable to free himself from his car due to his injuries and, while waiting for an ambulance to arrive, suffered a cardiac arrest and died.

In her report, which has been sent to Ilkley Town Council, she concluded that "there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken".

She said Mr Goater had been unaware of the layby due to the layout of the road and was unable to avoid what she described as the "inevitable collision".

She added: "Had the layby been situated elsewhere or signposted well in advance of the crest of the hill it is likely that sufficient warning to an oncoming vehicle would have been provided in time to enable awareness of an oncoming vehicle and a reduction in speed from 50mph."

In response, a spokesperson for Bradford Council said: "This is a very sad and unfortunate incident.

"The area in question is not a layby and does not form part of the operational highway boundary. It is a section of moorland that the broken-down vehicle had pulled off the road into, to await recovery.

"The speed limit on this road has been reduced from 50mph, at the time of the accident, to 30mph, a sign has also been erected to indicate bends and a narrowing of the road as well as slow markings being painted in the road.

"We will review the area again to see if further safety improvements can be made."