Shropshire driver on charges for fatal head-on crash

Mair Thomas, from Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury, died at the scene of the crash on the A5 close to Montford Bridge on March 30 last year.

A pregnant woman travelling in the other car involved lost her baby as a result of the collision and several other people were injured.

Coroner John Ellery recorded a verdict of accidental death at an inquest at the Guildhall in Shrewsbury yesterday.

Mrs Thomas had been travelling in a Volkswagen Golf with her husband Arthur in the southbound direction between Oswestry and Shrewsbury at the time of the collision at 5pm.

After clipping a car, moments later their vehicle went head-on into a silver Toyota being driven by Stewart McNeil, who was travelling with his pregnant wife and young son in the opposite direction.

Jamie Costello, who was travelling behind the Thomas's vehicle, told the inquest he had seen the car "drift" on to the wrong side of the road while going at about 50mph before colliding at first with a blue Rover.

Jean Williams, the driver of the Rover, said she feared she was about to die as the sides of the two cars hit each other side-on.

She said the car had initially swerved out towards the middle of the road, leading her to think it may be about to overtake. The Golf went back on to its side of the road, before suddenly moving out again.

"It literally pulled out on to my side of the road and it didn't try to slow down," she said.

"I didn't have anywhere to go because of the vehicles behind me. I thought 'this is it' to be honest."

She added: "It was just a bang and I just went past and I thought 'oh my goodness'. I looked up into my mirror and could see it hit the silver car. I could see the silver car go up in the air."

Mr McNeil said it had appeared to him the Golf was attempting an overtaking manoeuvre.

He said he had been aware of a car behind him and had looked in his mirror.

"When I glanced back and looked out the front, the Golf was on a direct collision course for us. I don't even believe I had time to brake."

Mr Ellery said Mr Thomas had been excused for giving evidence on both medical grounds and because he had no recollection of the incident.

But he said criminal charges are progressing against Mr Thomas.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, he said Mr Thomas had "clearly left his lane" and had gone on to the other side of the road.

"That is the cause of the collision with tragic consequences for his wife and consequences for Mr and Mrs McNeil and their family," he said.