The parents of a 27 year old man from North East England who was mown down and killed by a lorry in Bristol say they are stunned that a coroner has today recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Jake Thompson died in May 2011, five days after he was hit by a lorry driven by Paul Vowles as he crossed the A37 at the Three Lamps Junction on his way to meet a friend.

Even though the driver had been travelling at 38 miles an hour in a 30 mile speed limit immediately before the collision, and may have travelled through a red or changing light, the police and Crown Prosecution Service have refused to prosecute him for careless driving.

Lorry driver was travelling at 38mph in a 30mph limit

Janet and John Thompson, who live in Durham, said in response to the Bristol coroner’s verdict:

“We are stunned and extremely disappointed by this ruling. To lose a son at such an early age is heartbreaking for any parent. To then have to sit helplessly by whilst the police and the CPS decide not to do anything about charging a lorry driver travelling at 38mph in a 30mph limit just before he slowed down to avoid the impact and who possibly hit our son whilst the lights were changing on a pedestrian crossing is totally unbelievable to us and further heartache. To now be told that Jake’s death was an accident compounds our distress. We want to see the driver in court and fear that the coroner’s verdict today makes that battle more difficult.

“We will not give up fighting for justice for Jake and will be consulting with our lawyer at Thompsons Solicitors about the possibility of pursuing a private prosecution. We are not seeking revenge but this isn’t justice. No parent should go through what we have. No driver should get away without a point on his licence whilst we will never see our son again.”

Jake’s sister Jane said in a statement given to the coroner: “Jake was dearly loved by all those whose lives he touched. How would you feel if no one had the courage to apologise for the accident that took the life of someone important to you or the moral decency to show any remorse? How would it feel to learn perhaps not every possible path was explored in an investigation by the people we are meant to be able to put our trust in every day?”