The aim of this page is to illustrate the events and circumstances surrounding Debbie’s accident. Whilst, at this present moment, I cannot publish all information you will at least have the outline details. I have to apologise for the delay in publishing this page but due to it’s content it has been one of the hardest things to do and I can only just about do it now. Over the next month or so, I will update the details below with the formal accident report as submitted to the CPS by the Thames Valley Accident Investigator.
WARNING – This includes information on Debbie’s injuries. Do not read if this will upset you.
At approximately 06:20 on Thursday 20th February 2003, Debbie left her house in Cox Green and joined the A404M at junction 9a going towards High Wycombe. She was on her way to the Castle Royle gym for a personal training session.
At the same time Miss X was leaving her work after finishing a 12 hour shift. Miss X was the holder of a provisional driving licence and was riding a moped. For those who have not yet pieced this part of the puzzle together, the ‘M’ part of the A404M defines this piece of road as a motorway. As such, all motorway restrictions apply. According to UK law a provisional licence holder is deemed inexperienced and therefore unqualified to drive on a motorway. Additionally, Parliament have also declared that mopeds are underpowered and cannot be driven/ridden on motorways presumably because they are dangerous being driven at such low speeds. So in summary, Miss X should not have even been on the same stretch of road as Debbie and if she was following the law the accident would never have happened!
Due to circumstances we will never know, Debbie and Miss X collided in the near side lane of this two lane motorway. Debbie hit the moped from the rear which caused Miss X’s helmet to be thrown from her head and for Miss X to be thrown from her bike onto Debbie’s bonnet and windscreen. The collision caused Debbie to move across to the far side lane and more than likely come to a complete stop.
At this time Mr Y was travelling from his home to his work. Driving down the same stretch of the A404M in a Ford Transit Van. He came upon the accident and swerved out of the way of Miss X who was tumbling on the road. Rather than swerving to the left and avoiding Debbie, he swerved right and hit Debbie square in the rear of her car. It has been deemed that he was not driving in any manner illegally and his vehicle has been declared road worthy.
Debbie was attended to at the scene of the accident by paramedics and contrary to the story published in the Maidenhead Advertiser, she did not have to be cut from her vehicle. We found this out by talking to the attending Fire Chief. I do know that Debbie did die at the scene at least once but was revived by the paramedics. I am also led to believe that she also died in the paramedics ambulance and revived once again. She later then also died in theatre but did not regain consciousness.
Debbie sustained too many injuries to list on the Interim Death Certificate issued by the Deputy Coroner for Buckinghamshire that the entry simply reads “Multiple Injuries”. I can tell you she suffered a fractured skull, a ruptured spleen, punctured lungs and massive internal bleeding. According to one of the consultants who worked on Debbie, any one of these injuries alone was severe enough to kill her.
Debbie was driving her black Golf GTi at the time. Mum and I went to see the vehicle in the compound. In a space of approximately 3 feet behind the drivers seat the remaining pieces of the car were crushed. All the metal, the boot, fuel tank, bumper, back seat, wheels, tyres, axle, exhaust etc were all crushed into this very small space. Debbie was wearing her seat belt but was thrown forward with such force that the steering wheel was no longer round. Next time you get into your car, take hold of the steering wheel and shake it. It is normally made of solid steel covered by leather and padding. Instead of being round, Debbie’s body had forced the wheel into a shape like a pizza with a couple of slices missing. The force needed to do this is simply impossible for any of us to imagine. It was this impact that caused most of the injuries to my sister.
At this moment in time, there is no formal time of death. The suggested time of death is the first time she died on the scene (approximately 06:28). However the Coroner will state this in the inquest which is due to be heard in a couple of months (watch the ‘News’ section to find out more on this).
As mentioned above, when the details of the accident become public record, I will publish the exact details here.
This page has been the most hit page since the website’s inception. I hope this provides the information that people have been afraid to ask me or mum for. If not, feel free to email me.
Debbie Ing Memorial Fund 