Police continue appeal for witnesses following fatal incident with flying debris at Switch Island

Merseyside Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses following an incident in Netherton on Friday 18th February.

Officers were contacted at just after 2.10pm to reports that debris had struck the windscreen of a vehicle at Switch Island/Dunningsbridge Road.

Sixty eight-year-old Stephen Matthews, who was a passenger in the vehicle, sadly passed away.

Roads policing officers have today, with the permission of Mr Matthews’ family, issued a photograph of a piece of metal which is believed to have stuck the vehicle as part of their ongoing appeal.

Sergeant Steve Smith, from Merseyside Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Following the very sad death of Mr Matthews we have carried out a number of lines of enquiry into what occurred in the lead up to his death.”

“On that day the country was hit by strong winds as part of Storm Eunice. We believe that this piece of metal may have come off a vehicle as a result of the winds and struck the vehicle Mr Matthews was travelling in.”

"It is thought it may be from a box type van which could have been travelling towards Maghull on the A59 and I would ask anyone who has any information which could assist our investigation to contact us.”

"Do you believe this item has come from your vehicle? Has a rental vehicle been returned to your business with metalwork missing or have you been asked to supply or fit a new part similar to that pictured to a vehicle in the past three weeks?”

"Mr Matthews’ family have given us permission to release this photograph as they are searching for answers to what happened that day.”

"We understand that the driver of the vehicle may not even have realised at the time what had happened, but it is important, for Mr Matthews’ family, that we pursue this line of enquiry and find out the full circumstances of his death.”

"I must stress, that this time I am searching for the driver as a witness to this incident as they can assist with my investigation in providing answers for the family."

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to call our Matrix Roads Policing Unit on (0151) 777 5747, email SCIU@merseyside.police.uk, or DM @MerPolCC on Twitter quoting reference 22000120435.