Woman Who Died In Motorway Crash Was 'Very Tired' From Working Extended Shift

A woman who died in a motorway crash was 'very tired' from working an extended shift, an inquest has heard.

Sorina Gheorghe, from Worcester, had just started a new job at a factory three weeks before the crash at 5.40am on 3 April, and was nervous about driving on UK motorways, having emigrated from Romania.

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The 24-year-old attempted to overtake a van and a trailer but misjudged the manoeuvre, braking sharply and turning left and right as she attempted to correct her Peugeot 206.

She subsequently swerved into lanes two and three and collided head-on with a Land Rover Discovery, with both vehicles then careering into the central reservation.

CPR was given to Gheorge at the scene, but she went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at 6.04am.

The Land Rover sustained 'serious damage' to its front, but nobody in the car was injured.

Speaking at Worcestershire Coroner's Court, forensic investigator PC Mark Murphy - who reviewed dashcam footage of the crash - said there was a 'degree of panic' about the way Gheorge attempted to re-position her car after attempting to overtake the other vehicles.

According to Worcester News, he said: "The manner of driving is indicative of a novice, unconfident or nervous driver.

"It's that combination of both left and right. With a novice driver the tendency is to keep on the brakes, when releasing the brakes is often more beneficial."

He added that she had attempted three manoeuvres but 'barely flashed' on each occasion.

PC Murphy estimated from the dashcam footage that she was travelling at around 50 to 60mph at the time of the crash and said Gheorge's vehicle suffered 'extremely significant damage', including a 'buckled and deformed' steering wheel.

Gheorge had worked an extended shift the day before her death and her mum, Lulia Gainar - who she lived with - said in a statement that she had been complaining of headaches and fatigue.

She said: "I think she had a lot on, and she was just doing too much."

A statement from William Chin, who was driving in lane three at the time of the crash, was also read in court.

He said: "I could see the driver side of the car was completely crushed inwards and the driver was not moving."

Assistant coroner Simon Charlton said Gheorghe was 'very tired and suffering from hay fever' at the time of her death. He concluded she had died from multiple injuries as a result of a road traffic collision.

Topics: uk news

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey