Heartbroken boyfriend reveals ‘beautiful’ mum’s final words before she died in crash after aquaplaning on motorway
THE heartbroken boyfriend of a “beautiful” mum who died after aquaplaning on a motorway has revealed her final words before the crash.
Natalie Doherty, 33, lost control of her BMW on a motorway near Bury, Greater Manchester, on May 8 – leaving behind her six-year-old son Bobby.
The mum joined the M66 when her car hit floodwater, aquaplaned, left the carriageway and crashed into a tree.
She was tragically pronounced dead at the scene, while little Bobby was at his gran’s house.
An inquest into her death heard she was returning home with her boyfriend Jamie Hogarth after taking him to a business meeting.
Giving evidence, Mr Hogarth said Natalie was not travelling more than 60mph and was not using her phone.
She also had no drugs or alcohol in her system at the time of the tragedy.
Speaking of the her final moments, Mr Hogarth told Rochdale Coroners’ Court: “Her last words were, ‘Oh f***, Jamie.’
Most read in News
“We aquaplaned, did a 180 spin and spun across the carriageway.
“We drove up the embankment and hit a tree.”
He added that it was “clear” to him Natalie had died “very quickly”.
A post mortem examination showed the mum had suffered severe internal injuries including a fractured sternum and ribs.
It was found Natalie died of multiple fatal injuries and hemothorax, when blood collects between the chest wall and lungs.
Greater Manchester Police officer Paul Terry, a forensic collision investigator, said there was no oil spillage on the road at the time of the crash.
He believed the only issue that may have contributed to Natalie’s death was the depth of her tyre treads.
Her front driver side tyres measured at 2.6mm, the passenger side 1.6mm, rear back 2.9mm and the off side 1.5mm.
The legal limit is 1.6mm.
Clifford Orrell, from Highways England, told the court there was nothing to suggest there was an issue with floodwater on the motorway until Natalie’s death.
He said drainage on the carriageway was effective but due to the level of rainfall on May 8, it became insufficient.
Natalie’s driving was not to be criticised. Once the aquaplaning commenced, there is no chance of the vehicle being re-secured.
Lisa Judge
Summing up the inquest, assistant coroner Lisa Judge, said: “The tyre tread caused Natalie’s vehicle to aquaplane and she was unable to regain control.
“The direction in which the vehicle swerved, which was towards the central reservation, I find indicative by the tread depths on the tyres.
“Aquaplaning will or will not occur, it all depends on the speed, tread depth and water.
“Natalie’s driving was not to be criticised.
“Once the aquaplaning commenced, there is no chance of the vehicle being re-secured.
“The union of those separate factors – speed, tread depth and standing water, resulted in aquaplaning occurring with fatal consequences.
“I have no doubt that the dignity in which the family have conducted themselves comes solely from the love they have for Natalie.”
‘INSEPERABLE’
Paying tribute before the inquest, Natalie’s mum, Marion Mckenzie, described the moment she found out her daughter had died.
The 55-year-old said: “I screamed and Bobby said, ‘What’s wrong with nana?’
“We told him I had stubbed my toe.
“Then Bobby sat on his bed with his McDonald’s watching telly.
“This morning, I realised we will never see her again.
“We will never speak to her.
“You just think to yourself, why did she have to go? Why didn’t she just stay at home? Why didn’t they go in the van?
“But you could question everything.”
Speaking before the inquest, Marion’s partner, Andrea Mckenzie, said: “He’s six – his dad told him mummy is an angel and that god only takes the good angels.
“I’ve never seen a bond like the bond with her and Bobby; they were absolutely inseparable.”
Natalie Doherty’s death was ruled as multiple fatal injuries as a result of a road traffic collision.