A CORONER plans to put pressure on the Highways Agency to change its gritting priorities after a ‘Good Samaritan’ was killed in a multi-vehicle crash caused by black ice.

Stuart Shaw, of Castlewray, Broughton, got out of his green Fiat to warn oncoming traffic about ice which had already caused a Vauxhall Corsa to crash at the top of Lindale Hill, on the A590. The hearing was told another motorist, Michaela Webster, of Askam, then passed over the ice and lost control of her silver Hyundai which struck Mr Shaw. The inquest was told she did not realise her car had hit Mr Shaw.

The popular footballer, who played for Ulverston Rangers, Dalton United and Coniston, was thrown into a roadside verge where he lay unnoticed until police found him almost half an hour later. A number of cars were involved in the accident which happened on January 19 2011.

PC Phillip Murray explained that because of the steepness of the descent and the curve in the road, motorists would find it very difficult to steer their car when they hit ice.

Christopher Court, delivery manager with EnterpriseMouchel, a company sub-contracted to take care of the Highways Agency's A and trunk roads, said it was his team’s decision not to grit that section of the road.

He explained his company employed information from a detailed forecast and real time sensory station to decide whether the road should be gritted or not. On this occasion it was decided that the road should be ‘monitored’ and no treatment was required.

Barrister David Pojur asked that if the company was armed with information known locally about the altitude of the hill and the changing weather patterns on it, would Mr Court make a different decision on treatment to the road in future.

“No. We have to do what is reasonably practicable,” said Mr Court. “My decision would still be to monitor the carriageway. You have got to understand the procedure that has been gone through. This was an unfortunate situation. We base our decisions on rigid facts.”

Ian Smith, the coroner for Cumbria South and East, said he would write to the Highways Agency to ask it to consider a procedure which would take into account local geographical variations which may affect risk spots at different points on roads.

“I can put pressure on them to look at it (the decision process) themselves to see if anything can be done to improve it in the future,” said Mr Smith, adding: “Mr Shaw did a controlled stop. He did the Good Samaritan role.

“He stopped to see if he could help. A lot of other people didn't. He should be credited for that. He stopped and had assessed potential danger to other people.”

Mr Smith recorded a verdict of accidental death.