Driver swerved into path of oncoming car on A47, inquest hears
Sandra and Brian Spinks died after the collision in November last year
Last updated 29th Jul 2025
A couple died of multiple traumatic injuries after swerving into a car on a major Cambridgeshire road, a coroner has concluded.
Sandra and Brian Spinks were travelling in a Nissan Pulsar when it collided with a Toyota Prius on the A47 at Thorney Toll just after 8.50pm on November 20 last year.
Both were transferred to hospital before Mr Spinks died later that evening, while Mrs Spinks passed away the next day.
The driver of the Toyota, a man in his 20s, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Two passengers - a woman in her thirties and a man in his twenties - were also taken to hospital with life-threatening and minor injuries.
Members of both Mr and Mrs Spinks' families were present for the short hearings today.
999 call
A report from the East of England Ambulance Service said shortly after the collision, paramedics found Mrs Spinks was conscious, while Mr Spinks was treated for a cardiac arrest.
Area coroner Caroline Jones told the inquests that paramedics ranked a 999 call to ambulance staff as category two rather than category one.
Category two calls are for serious incidents when emergency crews aim to response within an average time of 18 minutes.
While category one - for life-threatening injuries and illnesses such as cardiac arrest - require a response time of seven minutes.
Ms Jones said this was correct for the collision as "reports from police found that all patients were breathing and awake, which is what made category two relevant.
"If no one was breathing, it would be upgraded to category one."
Apology to families
Mr Spinks - 68, of Dines Close, Wilstead, Bedford - was taken to Peterborough City Hospital where he died of his injuries.
Mrs Spinks, 65 of the same address, was originally taken to the same hospital but was later transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge where she died after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Ms Jones said a serious collision investigation report by Cambridgeshire Police found the Spinks' vehicle was travelling at no more than the 60mph speed limit before crossing the carriageway into the path of the Toyota Prius.
The report said the driver of the Prius saw Mrs Spinks around "25 to 30 yards away" from him before hitting the front side of his car, and had "less than five seconds (to react) after seeing Mrs Spinks' car swerve".
Ms Jones said data from the Toyota Prius showed "no physical evidence to suggest Mrs Spinks applied braking prior to the collision."
A post-mortem examination found Mrs Spinks died of multi-organ injuries due to high force impact, while Mr Spinks suffered several injuries, including to his spine and rib fractures.
Ms Jones said it's unclear why Mr and Mrs Spinks' car collided, and told their families "I’m sorry that is the case."