Motorist, 87, died after ending up 200 miles away from home after getting lost during 27-hour car journey

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Motorist, 87, died after ending up 200 miles away from home after getting lost during 27-hour car journey

February 27th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

By
Anthony Bond

Last updated at 11:13 AM on 27th February 2012

Tragic: Polish born Hipolit Legowski ended up 200 miles away from his home after he became lost on a marathon 27-hour car journey. He died shortly after being released from a police station

An 87-year-old motorist is likely to have died from the ‘stress and upset’ of being questioned by police after getting lost on a 27-hour car journey, an inquest has found.

Polish-born Hipolit Legowski ended up 200 miles from home in Shifnal, Staffordshire, and was stopped by police in Devon when he was spotted driving erratically in Devon.

A jury found that there were ‘defects’ in police and social services systems that could have contributed to his death.

After being interviewed by police he was escorted on his way.

However, an inquest in Exeter, Devon, was told that the pensioner was later found dead in a field at Hartland, North Devon.

A sergeant was disciplined following an Independent Police Complaints
Commission investigation which ruled that basic mistakes had been made by Devon and Cornwall
Police.

The IPCC said the force should have done more to help Mr Legowski.

The deputy Devon coroner Darren Salter told the Exeter hearing that Mr Legowski set off for a local car journey in the Midlands on July 27 ‘before becoming confused and seriously lost and ended up in North Devon’.

He said his erratic driving was spotted by police and he was taken to the Barnstaple police station in the early hours of the next morning before ‘he was returned to his car and allowed to go on his way’.

On July 29 his family reported him missing and by 8pm the next day his body was found in the cornfield.

The jury was shown a 14 minute recording of Mr Legowski in the police custody centre after he had been stopped in his red Ford Fiesta car.

A custody officer is heard telling him that he is a ‘long way from home’ to which he replies ‘no it’s not, it’s half an hour’.

Troubling: Mr Legowski was taken to Barnstaple police station, pictured, after officers spotted his erratic driving. But he was allowed to go on his way and was later found dead

Map showing distance between Shifnal and Hartland

During the conversation, the pensioner, who had lived in Britain since the war and spoke good English, said: ‘I am not ill. I can find myself home.’

Officers directed him to the motorway and escorted him part of the way but his body was later found in the field next to his car at Hartland – in the opposite direction to the main roads out of North Devon.

His family said the confused pensioner, who fought with the Free Polish Army in World War Two, had driven past Wellington, Somerset, on the M5 and thought he was near Wellington, Shropshire, which was 30 minutes from his home.

Pathologist Dr Jason Davies said Mr Legowski died from natural causes through heart disease.

After a three day hearing last week, the jury recorded a narrative verdict saying the ‘stress and upset may have contributed to his death but we cannot possibly determine this’.

The jury added: ‘We believe that there were some defects in the system which may have contributed to the circumstances which arose to the death.’

Coroner Darren Salter said he would recommend stricter protocols between police and social services to ensure a safety net in cases where mental health is an issue.

Discovery: Mr Legowski's body was found in a field next to his car at Hartland. Pictured is Hartland Quay

Discovery: Mr Legowski’s body was found in a field next to his car at Hartland. Pictured is Hartland Quay

But he cautioned: ‘Care cannot be forced on people but the police cannot detain someone when there are no lawful grounds to do so.’

A member of the public had dialled 999 when they saw the retired blacksmith’s car veering over white lines near Launceston, Cornwall, just after 10pm on the day Mr Legowski had left his home in Shropshire to see a local friend.

Then PC David Brown saw his car stationary on a roundabout in North Devon after he finished his shift but raised the alarm and followed him until he pulled into a lay by.

‘He was going at a very slow pace, 10mph. He was weaving left to right and not in proper control,’ he told the jury adding that he thought the driver might be drunk.

PC Brown also said he thought the man may be suffering from dementia and was vulnerable.

He said: ‘He was very disorientated. He believed he was close to Shifnal but he was some distance away. I was concerned about the manner of his driving and he would find his way home.

‘He was not aware where he was and would not accept where he was,’ said PC Brown who even showed him a map showing where he was and where he lived some 200 miles away.

PC Brown called two colleagues in a marked police car and suggested that the only way to detain Mr Legowski was under the Mental Health Act.

A Devon and Cornwall police spokesman said: ‘Since July 2008, significant amendments have been made by the constabulary, as acknowledged by the coroner at the conclusion of the inquest, including amendments to training and operational policy. This has involved close liaison with our partner agencies.

‘As with all cases where deaths occur following contact with the police we have undertaken a full review of the relevant operational protocols with a view to improving our procedures where possible, we will now consider these in light of the coroner’s recommendation.

‘We would like to extend our sympathies to the family of Mr Legowski following his death in July 2008.’

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

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I’m sorry, but no one that age should be driving.

– Diane, Devon, 27/2/2012 10:42

Old man lost. Ring family. Call ambulance. Common sense.
Heartfelt condolences to his family.

– Mags, Bristol, 27/2/2012 10:34

There is no fault here but it might have been sensible for the family to remove his car and licence. He clearly was unaware he had a problem mentally. I hope my children do this for me if I can’t see that I am incapable of driving safely.

– Mellors, South of the park, 27/2/2012 10:31

Police should have helped. …. Well, he’s only an old man. The elderly are of no significance in this country. The sooner they die the sooner they stop being a nuisance. Help is only available for scroungers, assylum seekers and druggies. God help the man. To die in a field ….. by yourself! Having probably been hassled by some young coppers who only know about being young. Think about it folks.————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————– You obviously don’t have the slightest idea about what help is available for the elderly in this country or you would not be making such stupid and crass comments.

– James, Lewes, 27/2/2012 10:24

So his family were only concerned about him after he was missed for over a day? Some family they are. The only thing perhaps the police could have done was contact the family and let them know. That is if the gentleman could remember any of their contact numbers.
Shame he had a die in such a way but in this day and age of the blame culture, someone has to be awarded with the blame medal, easiest people to blame are the police. They have big shoulders though, they can take it.

– Steve, York, UK, 27/2/2012 10:19

I’m old but not ancient. Fortunately I have my full set of marbles. If on a day when I’ve a headache or don’t feel on top of the world, I don’t take the car out as when you’re older, your reactions can slow down and you need to concentrate 110% on what you’re doing. I make sure I am fit to drive but many don’t. I actually got shot down in flames only yesterday when I said to a friend there were far too many old people on the roads, who jumped back with there were more worse, youngsters. Around here you get old people driving in the middle of the road, no indications, driving the wrong way round roundabouts, mouthes wide open, they expect to have the right of way whether they have it or not. Basically it’s like driving a dodgem car….you have to dodge them and need eyes in the back of your head to keep yourself safe. My friend is old and needs special specs TO HOLD UP EYELIDS so he can see to drive at 80+. When you reach that stage it’s time to hang up the keys and go by taxi.

– Old Driver, Down South, UK, 27/2/2012 10:16

I have just filled in a licence renewal application form for my elderly neighbour who is 84. It asks whether you can see a number plate at so many feet away. He said yes. I wonder!
No retest over seventy, just box ticking and a paperwork exercise every three years. Such a mockery!

– Proletarian, as are we all, Formerly Great Britain, now Yuk, 27/2/2012 10:16

He was old and he died. No one’s fault. Fact of life, sad but true.

– I may be wrong but I am entitled to say it, Here, 27/2/2012 10:16

god help these people when they get old, this is not a life style choice it is a fact of life unlike the people who abuse their bodies then expect the rest of us to pay for wasted treatment so think before you open your ignorant mouths.

– arthur elliott, bletchley, 27/2/2012 10:15

“PC Brown called two colleagues in a marked police car and suggested that the only way to detain Mr Legowski was under the Mental Health Act.” ———- I bet that they wished they had now, with the benefit of hindsight. Of course, they could also have summoned the already, over-burdoned, ambulance service to take him to a main hospital to be medically and mentally assessed. There are so many things the poor old police could have done if they had known that they would be dragged through the coroner’s court. It’s a great pity that they removed the crystal ball from the police station which would have warned them that the bloke had only a few hours left to live. As another poster commented, “Damned if they do and damned if they don’t”

– Farmer Giles, Truro, Cornwall, 27/2/2012 10:05

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