Drunken error led to teenager’s death

Oct 19 2007 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

A TEENAGER killed when he tried to cross a main road on his way home was extremely drunk at the time of the accident, an inquest heard yesterday.

Scott Waters, who was 16, had been drinking with a group of older friends in Newcastle city centre in February this year, but late in the evening they became separated.

Making his way back home to Elsworth Green, Blakelaw, he attempted to cross the central motorway near the junction with Claremont Road when he was struck by a Vauxhall Corsa travelling south towards the city centre.

He was pronounced dead upon arrival at Newcastle General Hospital.

Tests showed that he had a blood alcohol level of 280mg – almost four times over the drink drive limit.

Yesterday, his parents, John and Marie, wept throughout the inquest at Newcastle Civic Centre. Afterwards, Mr Waters, 46, said: “He made a mistake and paid for it with his life.”

Speaking inside the court, Mr Waters regretted the circumstances that led to his son’s decision to walk home.

He said: “We only let him go out because he was with adults who would look after him. He made 20 phone calls to try and find out where they had got to. They let him down so badly. We miss him so much.”

The driver of the Corsa, 20-year-old Peter Seaman, from Lemington –who has faced no police action – was tearful as he gave evidence.

He had been driving with his two cousins at around 1am on February 17 and noticed Mr Waters in the central reservation.

He said: “I was about one-and-a-half football pitches away from him when I saw him climbing over the barrier in the central reservation towards us. I thought to myself that he was going to get over and stop.

“He stumbled a bit and then started to cross. I started braking and swerving to the left. He started sprinting.

“It was the front of the car on the driver’s side that made contact. I stopped the car and went across to see if he was all right.”

Reassuring him, coroner David Mitford said the central motorway was no place for pedestrians.

PC John Middleton, of Northumbria Police accident investigation unit, insisted Mr Seaman did his best to avert the tragedy. “The only reservation I would have about his driving is that he was in the outside lane. Nevertheless, pedestrians do have responsibility for their own safety,” he said.

Verdict: Accidental death.