Strood Man Died Speeding on A2 With Poor Tires, Inquest Finds

Aaron Ricketts died in a car crash. The crash occurred on September 26th. It happened on the A2 near the M2, close to the Wainscott junction. He lost control of his Vauxhall, and his car hit the central barrier and a bridge.

Emergency services were called around 2:35 AM after the inquest happened on February 19th. The crash involved only one car and occurred near the A289 slip road to Wainscott. Firefighters removed him from the car, but paramedics found multiple injuries. He was pronounced dead at 3:30 AM.

Aaron knew the route well, often traveling between Strood and London. His destination that night remained unclear during the inquest. PC Darren Chapman called it a tragic collision, saying speed, a damp road, and tire condition caused it. Toxicology tests found no drugs or alcohol in his system.

Two witnesses called the police. They saw his black Vauxhall Tiguan pass them at about 100 mph, while they drove 70. One witness said his driving was erratic and fast, and both confirmed the road was wet. Police cameras confirmed Aaron overtook them and dashcam footage verified the weather conditions.

Cameras recorded the collision itself, showing him moving across lanes before losing control. His car moved from the far right to the left side of the road. One witness saw Aaron overtake his car, then disappear from sight. Next, the witness saw the Vauxhall somersaulting and landing on the central reservation.

PC Chapman said the main cause was a bad tire. The rear passenger-side tire was in poor condition with a puncture and was underinflated. The tire tread was also under the limit, and the puncture existed before his final drive. His front tires were also low, and the car should have alerted him about this.

Aaron was not wearing his seatbelt, but the damage was likely fatal anyway. He made no calls or texts during the accident. The crash caused long delays on the M2, affecting traffic between Rochester and Gravesend.

Coroner Roger Hatch called it a combination of factors and concluded that Aaron Ricketts died due to a road traffic crash. Aaron leaves behind two young sons. His mother, Marica James, made a statement online, saying Aaron was a wonderful son, brother, father, and friend. His death was shocking for everyone. The A2 coastbound was closed for some time, between Gravesend and M2 junction 1, while they assessed damage to lampposts and the barrier and a structural engineer checked the bridge supports.