Laura Simmons: Shepherdess, 22, crushed to death by quad bike overloaded with weed killer

Laura Simmons, 22, was found on Spoonley Farm in Winchcombe, eight miles northeast of Cheltenham by a jogger on June 2, 2023. Police were called to the scene and detectives ruled out suspicious circumstances – but the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched a probe into the tragedy.

That day, Laura had been tasked with spraying weed killer, namely herbicide, along 20 kilometres of perimeter electric fences, Gloucestershire Coroner's Court heard. Her mother, Karen Simmons, had travelled down from her home on Shetland to holiday with Laura – spending an hour with her before she went to work on the day of her death.

Laura sustained a broken neck as she was crushed beneath the 350kg quad bike when it overturned as she tackled rough terrain. She was not wearing a helmet at the time, but Detective Sergeant Jonathan Williams, of Gloucestershire Constabulary, believed a helmet would not have prevented her death in this case.

HSE Mechanical Engineering Specialist David Whitton examined the quad bike, also known as an all-terrain vehicle or ATV, and said that its front rack was overloaded with a tank containing herbicide. The rack was designed to hold up to 30kg but was holding 49kg when it overturned.

Laura is also believed to have been riding one-handed, using one hand to spray the herbicide from a lance. He also discovered that all four tyres were underinflated, with one completely flat.

In a report, Mr David Whitton concluded: “I found several factors that would have reduced the dynamic stability of the ATV, which would have increased the risk of the ATV overturning. I’m of the opinion that the ATV overturned as a result of one or more of these factors whilst manoeuvring on uneven terrain.”

Emily O’Neil, a HSE inspector, told the inquest that the use of a quad bike and lance to spray weed killer is not recommended and they advise against it.

Laura’s then employer, farmer Toby Baxter, of Chedworth, said that spraying weed killer between the electric fence posts on a quad bike was “quite a delicate, slow job” and it was undertaken at “walking pace”.

He added: “Laura was a very careful operator… it was just a combination of unfortunate circumstances; the ground was uneven but not unduly uneven. It’s such a mundane place, it’s not somewhere you’d go to and think ‘that’s a stupid place to go on a quad bike’.

“She wasn’t doing anything wrong… she was basically going along probably listening to music, not totally paying attention, we all do that when we’re driving. This is a tragic accident, it’s affected everyone.”

Karen Simmons told the inquest: “Laura was brought up on a sheep farm and she did home-schooling, so she was helping a lot with her father on the sheep farm. We had several quads, and she was driving them from an early age. Certainly, from early teens, she was driving quads, and she was careful, I used to watch her driving them, and she didn’t drive excessively speedily.”

The jury returned a unanimous decision of accidental death.

In a tribute, Laura's mother Karen said: "Laura was a much loved daughter, sister and aunty. We are heartbroken that she was tragically killed in a quad bike accident last year at the young age of 22. Her manager said she was an exceptional worker and had done nothing wrong. She was a careful quad driver.

"She loved animals, especially sheep and dogs, and working outdoors. She was a very caring person, gentle, kind and humorous with a beautiful smile. Laura was also adventurous, bold and determined. I went to visit her for a holiday and met her for about one hour the day she died, little did I know that she would never return from her work.

"She was happy, healthy and very content working on the Spoonley Farm in the Cotswolds. Her colleagues, manager and estate owners were kind to her. One of her friends there said she set a good example to the young people on the farm as she was so cheerful. It has been life-changing for my family to lose our dear Laura and she will be forever in our hearts."