Family to sue fire service over deadly smash

At an inquest into the 36-year-old's death, which concluded yesterday a jury found the fire engine ran through a red light without its sirens on – which is against fire service regulations – before crashing into Ms Stacey's blue Subaru Impreza.

The jury also found the engine, which was being driven by firefighter Paul Rogers, was travelling at more than 18mph – significantly above the 5mph speed at which firefighters are advised to drive through red lights.

Coroner Christopher Dorries said he would be writing to the chief of the fire service to "draw attention to certain points" and ask him to look at the service's blue-light driving regulations.

Ms Stacey, from Shiregreen, Sheffield, had been pulling out of Weedon Street onto Attercliffe Common on the evening of June 29 2008 when the fatal smash occured. She suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her daughter Lauren, who survived the crash, received brain injuries and now requires one-to-one care. Lynne Stacey – Lauren's grandmother –said yesterday she has "never been the same little girl since that day."

After the inquest in Sheffield yesterday, at which Mr Dorries recorded a narrative verdict, solicitor Blaise Smith read a statement on behalf of Barry Stevens, Ms Stacey's partner and the father of her daughters Lauren and Rebecca, and the rest of her family.

"There are no winners in any of this," he said. "Nicola lost her life, Barry Stevens lost his partner of 16 years and the rest of Nicola's family have lost a mother, a sister, a daughter and a niece.

"We welcome today's verdict and are glad that the truth has finally been established. We thank the coroner and the jury for their hard work and hope the chief fire officer will reflect upon the coroner's comments.

"The matter will now be the subject of civil proceedings."

When the smash occured, the fire engine responding to a hoax emergency call by 17-year-old Ian Paterson.

At the inquest, Mr Rogers refused to answer the coroner's questions as to whether he had driven through red lights on Attercliffe Common, what speed he was driving at and whether or not he was using his sirens.

The other three firefighters in the engine at the time said they hadn't been paying attention during the journey so could not answer the same questions.

Two men working nearby, however, said they had heard the impact but had not heard any sirens. Police investigator Adrian Burgoyne also said that the collision could have been avoided if the fire engine had been doing 18mph or less.

Mr Dorries said: "This death need never have happened. I hope the tragedy that this court has seen over the last few days will restate the message that malicious fire calls kill people."

Following the inquest, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Mark Shaw from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: "This was a terrible accident which we know has caused terrible distress to Mr Stevens, Lauren, Rebecca and their family and friends. We are truly sorry for the loss they have suffered.

"The starting point for this tragic situation was a hoax call, without which this devastating accident would never have occured."

He added the service would carefully consider the findings and do everything possible to prevent it happening again.

Bored youth's hoax call led to tragedy

Nicola Stacey's death could have been avoided had Ian Paterson, a homeless teenager, not made a hoax call on the night of June 29 2008.

The 17-year-old called 999 to report a fire at an industrial premises in Old Sheffield Road in Rotherham, which is just over the Sheffield border.

The fire engine from Darnall fire station which collided with Ms Stacey's Subaru Impreza was responding to the call.

Coroner Christopher Dorries told the inquest: "Mr Paterson, when he was later arrested, said his was one of several calls that he had made for a laugh because he was bored."

Mr Paterson, who was then sleeping in a car in a garage in Rotherham, was charged shortly after the fatal crash.

Judge John Foster later slammed his lack of sentencing powers after he was unable to jail him – because or his age.

Sentencing Paterson in July 2008, Judge Fostertold him "you richly deserve to lose your liberty for a significant period of time" but the only sentence available to him was a 12-month referral order and a three-year Asbo.