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Police watchdog to supervise tunnel landslide deaths inquiry Police watchdog to supervise tunnel landslide deaths inquiry
(9 months later)
The police watchdog will supervise an investigation over the case of an elderly couple who lay dead in their car for up to 10 days following a landslide.The police watchdog will supervise an investigation over the case of an elderly couple who lay dead in their car for up to 10 days following a landslide.
Rosemary Snell, 67, and Michael Rolfe, 72, were killed on 7 July when their silver Skoda was crushed in a tunnel by hundreds of tonnes of mud and rubble.Rosemary Snell, 67, and Michael Rolfe, 72, were killed on 7 July when their silver Skoda was crushed in a tunnel by hundreds of tonnes of mud and rubble.
Dorset police referred their handling of the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, but the IPCC found there was no reason for it to investigate.Dorset police referred their handling of the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, but the IPCC found there was no reason for it to investigate.
But the watchdog has now said it will supervise an investigation by Avon and Somerset police into how that force handled the initial reports that Snell and Rolfe were missing.But the watchdog has now said it will supervise an investigation by Avon and Somerset police into how that force handled the initial reports that Snell and Rolfe were missing.
A spokesman said: "It will be carried out by Avon and Somerset professional standards department, and we will supervise that."A spokesman said: "It will be carried out by Avon and Somerset professional standards department, and we will supervise that."
The couple, both from Somerset, were making their way home following a romantic meal at the Bridge House Hotel when the landslide engulfed their car as they passed through Beaminster tunnel, in Dorset, on 7 July.The couple, both from Somerset, were making their way home following a romantic meal at the Bridge House Hotel when the landslide engulfed their car as they passed through Beaminster tunnel, in Dorset, on 7 July.
It was not until 16 July that Avon and Somerset Police requested a search of the tunnel after investigations linked the couple to the area.It was not until 16 July that Avon and Somerset Police requested a search of the tunnel after investigations linked the couple to the area.
The bodies of Snell, from Misterton, near Crewkerne, and Rolfe, from Fivehead, near Taunton, were recovered the next day.The bodies of Snell, from Misterton, near Crewkerne, and Rolfe, from Fivehead, near Taunton, were recovered the next day.
An inquest, which was opened and adjourned on Friday, heard rescue efforts could not have saved the couple who died almost instantaneously.An inquest, which was opened and adjourned on Friday, heard rescue efforts could not have saved the couple who died almost instantaneously.
West Dorset coroner's court heard the cause of death for Snell was chest compression due to being trapped in landslip, while Rolfe died following a fracture of the cervical spine as he was also trapped.West Dorset coroner's court heard the cause of death for Snell was chest compression due to being trapped in landslip, while Rolfe died following a fracture of the cervical spine as he was also trapped.
The coroner said the death of Snell would have been very rapid, while the death of Rolfe would have been instantaneous.The coroner said the death of Snell would have been very rapid, while the death of Rolfe would have been instantaneous.
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