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Was David Sands's crash into a disused cafe on 30 March 1987 deliberate?

Asked 3 Nov 2026 by ·Part of Which of the deaths remain unexplained after their inquests, and what would settle each one?·2 answers·0·0 following
Two answers, none aheadNone is ahead yet. See what would settle it.

Where it stands

Two answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Two are still possible.

Why it matters

An open verdict on a high-speed crash on a straight road with petrol cans in the boot; it set off the parliamentary demands for an inquiry.

Answers 2

Deliberate: suicide by crash
Evidence for it, no test yet
Evidence: 1 for
Still possible
Evidence: none yet
Still possible

Next steps 2

1
Find the Hampshire inquest report on Sands (May 1987)
Could decideFair odds~3 h
39score
Details

Local press (Basingstoke Gazette, Hampshire Chronicle) for May 1987 reported the inquest. The evidence heard (where he was on 28-30 March, where the petrol came from) would settle intent.

2
Find the Sands inquest report
Could shiftFair odds~4 h
21score
Details

Find Hampshire press coverage of David Sands's 1987 inquest (Basingstoke Gazette, Southern Evening Echo) for the evidence heard on intent.

Ranked by how likely each is to move the key question, for the time it takes

History

  1. House of Commons: missing the night before, petrol in the boot, police suspected suicideFor: Deliberate: suicide by crash
  2. NZPA-PA: missing the night before, petrol in the boot, police suspected suicideFor: Deliberate: suicide by crash
  3. Howard Witt: missing the night before, petrol in the boot, police suspected suicideFor: Deliberate: suicide by crash
  4. Session 1: raised the question and found one result bearing on its answers
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