A SECOND examination of the body of the grandmother driving in the A18 horror crash has been ordered – as police confirm they are investigating the condition of the road.
The unusual step of a second post mortem – which is normally conducted when further legal proceedings, criminal or civil, are pending – was requested by a third party.
The revelation was made at a preliminary inquest hearing in Cleethorpes Town Hall yesterday.
A line of traffic cones today marks the edge of the eastbound stretch of the A18 Barton Street, where three generations of the Cockburn family, from County Durham, were killed in a head-on collision with a lorry on Friday.
Grimsby and North Lincolnshire's coroner, Paul Kelly, ordered that the second examination of 49-year-old Angela Cockburn's body will be made. She was driving the car at the time.
This was on instructions from a third party, who was not identified.
Mr Kelly said once the second examination is concluded all the inquests will be consolidated "on completion of the investigation into the tragedy."
It came as Humberside Police confirmed that the condition of the A18 and its verges was one of the lines of inquiry being looked at by collision investigators.
A spokesman for the force said: "The condition of the road at the time of the collision is one area of the investigation that will be taken into account which is standard practice in such an investigation.
"However, once again, it is important that we don't speculate regarding the possible cause of the collision until all of the evidence has been gathered."
Mrs Cockburn's body will not be released to relatives until the examination is complete. No timescale was given.
The initial post mortem revealed she died from multiple injuries, the inquest was told.
Her husband David, 48, daughter Bethany, 18, and one-year-old granddaughter Lacie Jade Stephenson, Bethany's daughter, also died from multiple injuries.
The couple's older daughter, Carley Ann, 21, died from head injuries.
They all lived together in Middleham Close, Ouston, Chester-le-Street, in County Durham, and were travelling to a dance festival in Skegness in a Nissan Primera when the crash happened.
After the incident, the family were identified by Mr and Mrs Cockburn's son, Dean, the inquest heard.
Mr Kelly, who formally opened the inquest, said: "The bodies, save that of Angela Cockburn, can be released to the family.
"Her remains will be released following completion of the second post mortem examination which is expected to be later this week.
The inquests will then be consolidated following completion of the investigation into this tragedy."
Coroner's officer Walter Smith added: "A request has been made from a third party that a second post mortem be held into the driver. That will be completed during the course of the next few days.
"The bodies of other members of the family may be released.
"Investigations are on-going into the circumstances of this incident and they will report back as and when they are completed."
More floral tributes have appeared at the scene, despite a plea from a spokesman for Balfour Beatty requesting people not to lay flowers.
He said anyone stopping near the scene risked causing further accidents.
The traffic cones placed at the edge of the road were installed at the request of Humberside Police.
Jason Longhurst, head of development at North East Lincolnshire Council, Balfour Beatty's partner, said: "We are proactively supporting Humberside Police in its investigations and the council is not in a position to comment until these have been completed.
"We are awaiting the findings of the police report, but can confirm that the A18 Barton Street does fall into one of the areas which has been identified for a proposed speed reduction.
"On behalf of the council, we would like to offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those involved in this tragic incident and will review any findings from the investigation."
