A couple on their way to a Father's Day celebration were killed when the car they were travelling in drove directly into the path of an oncoming car.
Marie and Alfred Grugel, from Kirkby, were on their way to a pub lunch when their Vauxhall Corsa collided with a Ford Mondeo on the Rainford bypass, at the junction with St Helen's Road, at around 12.50pm on June 20 2021.
Marie, 57, suffered multiple serious injuries and died at the scene. Her husband Alfred, 62, suffered a traumatic brain injury and was taken to The Walton Centre in Fazakerley, where he died on July 10, 2021.
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At their joint-inquest at Bootle Town Hall today, the court heard Marie, a cleaner, and Alfred, a retired window-fitter, were both passengers in the grey Vauxhall Corsa, which was being driven by their 29-year-old daughter in a southbound direction.
An investigation by Merseyside and Lancashire police found the driver failed to give way to oncoming traffic as she attempted to turn off onto St Helens Road, driving into the path of a grey Ford, which contained a 28-year-old male driver, a 24-year-old female passenger, and a three-year-old in the back seat. All three suffered minor injuries.
Investigating officer Constable Moore said in a report: "The Vauxhall was travelling south-east on the Rainford bypass and entered the lane intending to cross the carriageway to enter St Helen's Road. The Ford was travelling north-west at, or around, 60mph. There was a clear, unobstructed view of over 200m. Travelling at the speed limit of 60mph, the Ford would have been visible for over seven seconds.
"The driver of the Vauxhall failed to give way to the Ford, which had right of way. Why the driver of the Vauxhall decided to cross the carriageway when there was insufficient time to cross safely is unknown."
Following the investigation, and communications with the Grugel family, police and prosecution services decided not to pursue criminal charges.
Prosecutor David Maxwell said: "The defendant's momentary lapse resulted in tragic and catastrophic consequences for her and her family. Given the circumstances of this case, and applying the CPS guidance, I have come to the unusual decision that it's not in the public interest to charge this matter."
Handing down conclusions of death by road traffic collision for both Marie and Alfred, coroner Julie Goulding said: "The car in which they were travelling turned right from the southbound carriageway on the junction with St Helen's Road in front of an oncoming car. The vehicle in the northbound carriageway collided with the car and Marie, who suffered catastrophic injuries, sadly died at the scene.
"The driver of the (Ford) car applied their brakes immediately, but through no fault of their own they had insufficient time to stop or take any other evasive action before the collision.
"The driver of the deceased's car inexplicably, due to a momentary lapse of concentration, drive in front of the other car and this act led to the fatal collision."
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