Shropshire man, 90, died a week after road crash

The injuries a 90-year old man suffered in what was initially considered a "minor traffic accident" led to his death a week later, a coroner ruled.

George Dyke was involved in a car crash at around 2.20pm on Monday, December 29, at Holly Waste, Cleobury Mortimer.

He died a week later, on January 6, at Doddington Lodge Care Home, Hopton Wafers, the inquest heard.

Shropshire Coroner Mr John Ellery said that Mr Dyke had been travelling on the A4117 in his Ford Escort when he attempted to turn right into Common Lane and hit a Fiat Panda being driven by Gillian Senior.

Paramedics and the police attended the scene where Mr Dyke said he had been "blinded by the sun", causing the crash.

Simon Pond, a police road traffic collision investigator based at Shrewsbury, said Mr Dyke had been examined by paramedics at the scene.

He said: "We were called at 2.30pm and it was dealt with as an injury accident. The deceased was examined by paramedics at the scene and no one believed it would have the result it eventually did.

"Consequently the force did not do a lot at the scene because it was a minor injury accident."

Mr Pond said Mr Dyke was taken home by officers and was advised to contact his GP if he felt unwell. Mr Ellery said Mr Dyke had died at Doddington Lodge Residential Home on January 6.

He recorded the cause of death as "cardio respiratory failure" caused by coronary atherosclerosis and rib fractures sustained in a road traffic accident. Mr Ellery recorded a conclusion of death by road traffic accident.