Two young men died in a crash on the A40 near Haverfordwest after the driver, who was over the drink-drive limit, lost control of his car. The vehicle hit a sign, overturned, and came to rest on its roof in the middle of the road.
Aled William Coleman, 23, was driving a Volkswagen Polo on the A40 north of Haverfordwest in the early hours of September 14 last year. At around 3.13am, the car mounted a kerb, skidded, and collided with a road sign before flipping and stopping almost 100m down the carriageway.
Police and paramedics arrived to find Mr Coleman and his passenger, 18-year-old Aled Osian Bowen, inside the car. Both had sustained traumatic injuries and were declared dead at the scene.
Inquest Evidence and Witness Accounts
Inquests into both deaths were held at County Hall in Haverfordwest on Thursday. Evidence included a witness account from a motorist who saw the Volkswagen on its roof in the middle of the road. The motorist, who called 999, said he could make out two people inside the car but they were not making a sound, something he described as “eerie”.
A paramedic who responded to the crash said he saw a bottle of Jack Daniels on the floor, while the first police officer at the scene noted a “strong smell of alcohol” in the car.
Investigation Findings
A forensic collision investigator concluded that the car had travelled 98.56m before stopping after the initial impact with the kerb. While it was not possible to ascertain the speed the Volkswagen was being driven on the road, which has a 60mph speed limit, the investigator said that “inappropriate speed was a causation factor”.
A toxicology report after Mr Coleman’s death revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 131mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, above the legal limit of 80mg per 100ml. CCTV showed Mr Coleman and Mr Bowen getting into the car in Haverfordwest at 3.06am, just minutes before the crash. Neither was wearing a seatbelt, and no defects were identified with the car.
Coroner's Conclusion and Tributes
Senior coroner Gareth Lewis said Mr Coleman died as a result of a “traumatic head injury”, adding that “alcohol consumption and inappropriate speed were contributory factors”. Mr Bowen died as a result of “multiple traumatic injuries”.
Mr Bowen’s sister, Carys Bowen, read a statement at the hearing in which she said her brother's death was “sudden, violent and unexpected”. She added: "It is incredibly difficult to put in words what Aled meant to us. He was deeply loved by our family."
Mr Lewis recorded short form conclusions of “road traffic collision” in relation to both deaths and offered his sincere condolences to the families.
In a tribute issued following the crash, Mr Bowen’s family said: “He was a cherished son, a devoted brother and uncle, and a source of love and strength to everyone fortunate enough to know him. Aled left us on September 14 and while our hearts are broken we hold tightly to the memories of his laughter and the countless ways he enriched our lives. His kindness and spirit will live with us forever. We are deeply grateful for the compassion and prayers we have already received from everyone. For now we take comfort in remembering him not only as a son and a brother but as someone whose presence made the world brighter.”
Mr Coleman’s family said they lost someone “caring, kind, and fun loving” who will be “massively missed by all his family”.
