Man jumped to death from M6 bridge after raising 'prison fears'

Alan Bird was killed when he was struck by a van and two lorries after jumping from the M6 bridge at Moor Hall Lane, between junction 12, for Gailey, and 13, for Acton Trussell, Cannock Coroner's Court heard.

The incident, which closed the motorway for four hours, happened on the evening of October 27 last year.

The inquest heard that the 41-year-old, who had lived in Wheatcroft Close, Penkridge, suffered multiple injuries when he jumped onto the southbound carriageway of the motorway and was hit by a van and two lorries.

Toxicology tests showed he had consumed alcohol and the inquest was told that it was believed he drank four cans of lager before walking to the bridge.

Pc Matt Lovatt, from the collision investigation unit at Stafford, told the inquest that Mr Bird had previously been admitted to County Hospital in Stafford due to alcohol issues and the last three years of his life had been difficult. Mr Bird had suffered with depression and attempted to take his own life three times.

He told his mother he would throw himself in front of a train.

Pc Lovatt said on the day he died he had appeared at Cannock Magistrates Court after breaching a restraining order. He was been given bail to come back the next day.

Pc Lovatt said witnesses had seen a person staggering in the vicinity of Moor Hall Lane and a group of people thought he was drunk.

Another witness said he saw a man on the bridge looking at the traffic and 'appearing to be in his own little world'.

Other people had seen someone straddling the railings and saw something fall and hit a van.

The inquest heard that one of the lorry drivers who hit Mr Bird had thought it was a 'pile of clothes in the road' and was unable to avoid the collision.

When police attended the incident they used a mobile fingerprint reader to identify Mr Bird, who was unemployed but previously worked as a window fitter.

Pc Lovatt told the inquest that he had been arrested only a few days before his death for breaching a restraining order and was also charged with harassment.

After appearing before Cannock magistrates on October 27 he returned home and his mother thought he was 'agitated' and she said he had been frightened that he would be going to prison.

He made a sandwich and drank four cans of lager before leaving to walk to the bridge, the inquest heard.

Pc Lovatt said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Bird's death and no suicide note had been left.

Deputy assistant coroner for South Staffordshire, Margaret Jones said: "Mr Bird was a troubled gentleman.

"On the evidence available to me I do not think this was an accident."

She concluded that Mr Bird had committed suicide.