A BBC Proms cellist skidded his automobile on ice whereas on the way in which dwelling from a live performance, killing a mother-of-three who stopped to assist a stranded motorist, an inquest heard.
Natalie Mountford, 45, was thrown 30ft into the air and died at scene of the crash close to Sturminster Newton, Dorset, on December 18, 2022.
Cellist Adrian Brendel, a visiting professor on the Royal Academy of Music, misplaced management of his automobile on ice as he made his means dwelling from a live performance in Oxford within the early hours of the morning.
The 48-year-old, who has carried out on the BBC Proms, swerved in direction of the verge to keep away from two automobiles blocking the street forward however as an alternative collided with Ms Mountford.
The mother-of-three had simply pulled over to assist a younger lady after her automobile had skidded right into a hedge.
Natalie Mountford, 45, (pictured) was thrown 30ft into the air and died at scene of the crash close to Sturminster Newton, Dorset, on December 18, 2022
Cellist Adrian Brendel (pictured), a visiting professor on the Royal Academy of Music, misplaced management of his automobile on ice as he made his means dwelling from a live performance in Oxford
Mr Brendel, the son of Alfred Brendel – one of many best pianists of the twentieth century – mentioned he had braked as quickly as he noticed the 2 automobiles however was unable to cease his Citroen Berlingo as a result of icy circumstances.
An inquest into Ms Mountford’s dying heard that the police discovered no proof of any wrongdoing on Mr Brendel’s half and her dying was a tragic accident.
Mr Brendel informed Ms Mountford’s household he was ‘personally devastated and traumatised’ by the incident and provided them his sincerest condolences.
However they allege Mr Brendel had been driving with out due care and a focus on the time of the crash and plan to pursue a civil case towards him.
In a press release, the household mentioned: ‘Natalie had just below three minutes to stay the ultimate a part of her life on arrival.
‘As regular, she spent 100 per cent of that point caring for others – her best trait would even be her downfall.
‘We do not perceive how each automobile travelling that evening stopped within the accident neighborhood however Mr Brendel’s was an extra 60 metres on. Solely pace could make this occur.’
Mr Brendel has carried out extensively all through the UK and overseas as a chamber musician and a soloist.
His performances embody on the Berlin Philharmonie, Teatro Colon in Buenes Aires and as a part of the BBC Proms. He’s additionally a member of the award-winning Nash Ensemble.
Mr Brendel had been driving to his £2.5m dwelling within the village of East Orchard, Dorset, having carried out on the Oxford Chamber Music Competition on a freezing evening.
Minutes earlier a Vauxhall Corsa pushed by Charley Mack skidded on ice on the B3091. It crashed right into a hedge and rebounded into the carriageway.
The mother-of-three had simply pulled over to assist Charley Mack (pictured) after her automobile had skidded right into a hedge
Ms Mountford managed to cease her automobile safely and received out to assist Miss Mack.
She put the youthful driver at the back of her automobile and walked in direction of the security of the verge.
Mr Brendel mentioned: ‘As I received over the forehead of the hill, I noticed the automobile throughout the proper hand lane.
‘I then noticed one other automobile parked on that slope. It wasn’t utterly apparent if it was on the kerb or the lane.
‘Once I noticed the primary automobile I knew one thing had occurred and I wanted to come back to a cease so I began slowing down, braking.
‘I anticipated to come back to a cease earlier than the automobile within the left hand lane. As I braked once more my automobile misplaced traction and began planing down the ice.
‘I realised in that second I used to be unlikely to have the ability to cease earlier than colliding with the automobile in entrance. I realised I needed to get the automobile off the street.
‘In my reminiscence each the lanes have been blocked so I attempted to get the automobile off to the left, that was my solely possibility. I believed the kerb was free, I hadn’t seen anybody there. My foot was on the brake the complete time.
‘I used to be determined to attempt to get some management again, as I received again onto the street and tried to proper the automobile I noticed a silhouette of Ms Mountford.
‘It was instantaneous, the primary time I noticed her was proper on the collision.’
Miss Mack mentioned she had dropped associates off in Shaftesbury and was heading again to Sturminster Newton.
She was doing about 40mph on the 60mph street due to the hazard of ice.
She mentioned: ‘I bear in mind hitting the hedge after which coming again out from the impression. I hit my head a bit of bit.’
Shortly after, Ms Mountford arrived and stopped to assist.
Miss Mack added: ‘I believed the identical factor was going to occur to that automobile however she stopped completely.
‘She mentioned one thing like “I knew this could occur, the street’s terrible, it is occurred earlier than”. She mentioned it may be okay and gave me a hug.
‘I used to be freezing. She mentioned “it’s essential to heat up, come and sit in my automobile”.
‘I might hear one other automobile coming however I used to be a bit extra relaxed as a result of she had managed to cease so I believed I am certain the opposite automobile will handle.
‘As she walked around the entrance of her personal automobile, the subsequent factor I actually noticed was headlights to the left of me flying down the street. It hit her and he or she actually went flying.
‘I noticed her land fairly close to my automobile and stoop over on her chest. I simply sat there for 5 seconds in disbelief. I used to be ready for her to rise up and he or she did not.’
When PC Nicholas Could, of Dorset Police, arrived on the scene his automobile additionally skidded on the ice. He informed the coroner it was tough to come back to a cease.
Bournemouth City Corridor the place the inquest happened after the tragic crash in Dorset in December 2022
Sergeant Geraint Butler, from the intense collision investigation staff, mentioned: ‘This was an extremely tragic accident.
‘We’ve got received no proof to say the style of driving of Mr Brendel is both harmful or careless.’
He mentioned Mr Brendel would have been confronted with both a tough chicane created by the opposite two automobiles, or to go on the within verge round Ms Mountford’s automobile.
Maddison Mountford, 18, described it because the day her household’s life modified eternally, along with her and her youthful siblings being separated as they moved to Staffordshire to be with their dad and he or she lived in Hampshire.
She mentioned: ‘Mum would exit of her means to assist others and cease others being harm, however that is what value her her life.
‘She died in probably the most her means attainable, which supplies me a level of consolation.’
Coroner Brendan Allen dominated Ms Mountford died on account of a street visitors collision.
He mentioned he was ‘involved’ concerning the variety of collisions there had been on that part of street and could be writing a prevention of future deaths report with actions for Dorset Council and Wessex Water, who had been investigating a leak in a pipe that crossed beneath the street.
