Fatal A13 crash: Call handler error led to police delay
Jury finds three deaths might have been avoided had officers been sent to the correct location of an earlier incident.
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A jury at Walthamstow Coroner's Court has determined that a fatal collision on the A13 in east London on 15 July 2024, which claimed three lives, may have been preventable. The jury found that officers were dispatched to the incorrect location of an earlier road incident, resulting in a delay that contributed to the subsequent tragedy.
Sachin Kalia, 19, Davina Kaur Ruprah, 24, and Kiranjeet Sagoo, 36, were pronounced dead at the scene in Wennington Marshes, Rainham, following the collision. The jury stated that the deaths could have been avoided if police had reached the site of the initial crash in sufficient time to manage the situation.
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The initial incident and call handling failure
The first crash occurred around 9:10 PM when a speeding BMW 1 Series lost control in poor weather conditions and collided with a Ford Transit van. The van ended up on the central reservation, partially obstructing the outside lane. A passing motorist contacted the Metropolitan Police approximately seven minutes later, providing the location of the first crash as the Wennington junction between the A13 and A1306. However, the call handler failed to record this precise location in the system's remarks section. Instead, the computer system incorrectly logged the location as the Dagenham junction between the same two roads.
This error meant that responding officers were directed to the wrong junction. Despite checking one junction in either direction, they found no sign of the incident. Coroner Nina Persaud has issued a prevention of future deaths report highlighting the critical failure to record the correct location. The coroner noted that the computer system's inaccuracy and a reliance on imprecise mobile phone location data increased the risk of call handlers not fully attending to caller information.
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The jury's findings indicated that had officers been given the correct location, they would likely have arrived before the second collision. Their training included parking their vehicle to slow traffic and minimise risks to other road users, and they might have also moved the stranded Ford Transit van. The precise location of the first incident was eventually established using the What3words location sharing system.
Metropolitan Police response and training changes
In response to the coroner's concerns, the Metropolitan Police acknowledged the seriousness of the recording error and the lack of immediate supervisory intervention. The force stated that the call handler, who learned of the mistake on 24 July 2025, would undergo a period of reflection and learning. The force has since implemented changes to its 999 call handler training. This includes embedding material about the consequences of incorrect data recording into the MetCC Academy training syllabus and professional development days.
What3words has now been formally integrated into the training syllabus, with all new call handlers taught to request, recognise, and use the location codes. Updated guidance also prioritises verbal descriptions from callers and treats mobile mast data as a supplementary indicator. Training in mapping skills, triangulation, identifying road networks and landmarks, and using digital tools to verify caller location has also been strengthened.
Questions this report answers
+What caused the fatal collision on the A13?
A collision on 15 July 2024 resulted in three deaths. The jury found that a speeding BMW lost control in poor weather, colliding with a Ford Transit van. A delay in police response, caused by a call handler error directing officers to the wrong location of an earlier incident, was also found to have contributed to the fatalities.
+Why were police sent to the wrong location?
A call handler failed to record the correct location of an initial incident on the A13. The computer system incorrectly logged the location, leading officers to be dispatched to the wrong junction. This error meant they did not arrive in time to prevent the subsequent fatal collision.
+What changes has the Metropolitan Police made?
Following the incident, the Metropolitan Police has updated its 999 call handler training. This includes new material on the consequences of recording errors, formal incorporation of the What3words location system, and enhanced training in mapping skills and verifying caller locations.
WE FILE
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The London Travel Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.
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