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A21 safety concerns after Tunbridge Wells dentist dies in crash at Pembury
16:31, 23 October 2019
updated: 09:30, 24 October 2019
A dentist died after his car aquaplaned on a wet carriageway and crashed into a fence.
Subhash Pai, 37, was driving from his home in Tunbridge Wells to work when he lost control of his Audi Q7 on the A21 at Pembury.
Concerns have now been raised over the safety of the dual carriageway, after it was heard the crash mirrored another fatal accident which happened last year.
During an inquest, held at the Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone, Roger Hatch, coroner for north west Kent, said he will now issue a regulation 28 report to highways authorities - this highlights what action could be taken to prevent future deaths.
PC David Jeeves, from Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, gave evidence at the brief hearing and explained on the day of Mr Pai's crash - Saturday, July 27 - it was raining and had been for some time.
As a result there was an amount of surface water on the A21.
He said another driver witnessed Mr Pai, who was travelling London-bound, 'turn suddenly' and leave the road, at about 8am.
His vehicle crashed into fencing, and a post went through his windscreen, causing serious injuries to his chest.
Police arrived at 8.15am and Mr Pai, who was married with a young daughter, was pronounced dead at the scene.
PC Jeeves said no vehicle defects had been identified and that there was no CCTV of the scene and no available dash cam footage.
Mr Pai's phone was found in his pocket.
The officer added that there was 'heavy rain' and that the 'surface water could have caused the Audi to aquaplane'.
It was also revealed that data obtained from Kent County Council for the period of January 2016 to December 2018 detailed two injury collisions on the same stretch, one of them with 'similar circumstances'.
PC Jeeves said: "There was another collision which mirrors this one in which a driver died several months later."
KMTV: MPs calling for action on the A21
He said it happened in the same 'adverse weather conditions' and following the death of this driver, a London coroner had listed several concerns about the road.
These included better drainage, removing posts on the side of the road and installing a crash barrier.
Mr Hatch asked if anything had happened since the recommendations were made by the coroner in London.
PC Jeeves said there were signs at the location warning about flooding, which were placed prior to Mr Pai's crash, but no other actions had occurred.
Mr Hatch said: "It seems what occurred is that due to heavy rainfall his vehicle aquaplaned and left the road.
"I am concerned to hear a similar collision happened in September 2018 and I note the London coroner listed four concerns with this road.
"It seems apart from the signs pointing out the road is liable to flooding nothing else has taken place.
"I am equally concerned about the road conditions. I propose to make a rule 28 report in regards to this case with Highways authorities."
The cause of death was listed as penetrative chest trauma due to a road traffic conclusion.
