Explorer killed after walking onto Oxford ring road

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 06:04 · Archive

James 'Max' Farrar, an 80-year-old explorer and archaeologist from Utah, died after walking onto the Eastern Bypass in Oxford in January.

James 'Max' Farrar, an 80-year-old explorer and archaeologist from Utah, died on 10 January after walking onto the Eastern Bypass Road between Risinghurst and Horspath Driftway in the early hours of the morning. He was struck by two cars. An inquest held at Oxfordshire Coroner's Court on 13 October found that he had suspected dementia.

Mr Farrar's GP, Dr Gregory Lloyd of Hedena Health, told the inquest that issues with memory and confusion had been flagged in the weeks before his death. Surgery staff raised concerns after Mr Farrar arrived for a vaccination on the wrong day in December. When Dr Lloyd called him to check in, Mr Farrar was reluctant to be treated and agreed instead to get back in touch in January. A neighbour also submitted an anonymous e-consult expressing concerns that he 'seemed very confused and was hallucinating' and had declined to attend the GP surgery on their advice.

Dr Lloyd made an appointment and noticed symptoms consistent with dementia, though further tests were required for a formal diagnosis. Because Mr Farrar lived alone with no details of next of kin, he was referred to the adult mental health team for an at-home welfare assessment.

How it is being reported

• 'Remarkable' explorer with suspected dementia died in ring road crashThe explorer and archaeologist from Utah was killed after walking onto the carriageway of the Eastern Bypass in January this year, an inquest has found.Oxfordshire Guardian · 14 Oct, 05:00
• 'Remarkable' explorer with suspected dementia died in ring road crashThe explorer and archaeologist from Utah was killed after walking onto the carriageway of the Eastern Bypass in January this year, an inquest has found.Oxford Mail · 14 Oct, 05:00

In this story: James 'Max' Farrar · Dr Gregory Lloyd · Oxfordshire Coroner's Court · Oxford · Utah

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