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Tragic dad to sue city over missing bollard

26/ 7/2001

A TRAGEDY-HIT Salford man is considering legal action against Manchester City Council following the death of his 19-year-old daughter.

Waitress Helen Boylin was a front seat passenger in a car which ploughed into a barrier on the Mancunian Way.

Helen, of North Drive, Swinton, suffered multiple injuries and died in hospital 16 days later, a Manchester inquest was told.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Leonard Gorodkin said there was no evidence to establish what had caused driver Pamela Collison to crash while giving Helen and her friend Sarah Edwards a lift. However, during the hearing it emerged a bollard should have acted as a marker to indicate a slip road.

PC David Lloyd said the road was well lit and he was unable to say whether the absence of a bollard was a significant factor.

But outside the coroner's court, Helen's father Steve Boylin disputed police evidence and said he was convinced the missing bollard was to blame for Helen's death.

"If the bollard had been working it would have given the driver a warning," he claimed. "I don't blame Pam - there is no suggestion she was driving badly. I'm going to take legal action and sue the council."

The court heard that Helen and Sarah had been drinking prior to the accident in the early hours of November 22 last year.

Sarah, of Yewdale Gardens, Clifton, who suffered serious injuries, was in the back seat and had no recollection of the journey.

The coroner said said it was raining heavily and the conditions were terrible, but concluded: "None of us know exactly what happened other than the car drove into the barrier."

A Manchester City Council spokesman said: "We would express our deepest sympathies with the family.

"We are not aware of any formal claim against the city council. However, if one is received we will carry out a full investigation."