Storm Doris death of Craven Arms pensioner is ruled accidental

Alan Edward Green, 85, of Brooklands Park, had been the front seat passenger in a car travelling north on the A49 when it was hit by a falling poplar tree in the midst of Storm Doris on February 23.

Mr Green was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital for treatment but died on February 26.

At an inquest held at Shirehall in Shrewsbury, John Ellery, coroner for Shropshire, heard evidence that the tree had not been inspected since 2013, with a "landscape inspection" taking place in December 2015.

Weekly drive-by inspections had also been carried out.

Evidence from tree expert David Dowson revealed that the decay which weakened the tree would have been visible.

However, because it was on the side facing away from the road, and was down a slope, it would not have been visible during a drive-by inspection.

At the time of the accident Mr Evans was being driven to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital by volunteer driver Philip Slack in a Ford Focus.

Catherine Clement, who was driving a Freelander towards the vehicle, said the conditions on the day had led her to question whether she should be on the road.

She also described the tree falling and said there was nothing that could have been done to avoid it.

She said: "I was travelling south to Craven Arms to pick up my grandchildren and it was a very very windy day. In fact I did start to think to myself if I am sure if I should be driving because it was so bad.

"I slowed my speed right down and saw a red car coming towards me on the other side of the road slowly and the tree just went 'boof'.

"I just knew what was going to happen but there was nothing I could do to stop it.

"The tree came down literally straight on top of the bonnet."

The coroner read evidence which stated: "At 9.25am on the morning of February 23 Mr Green was a front seat passenger in a red coloured Ford Focus on the A49 northbound, one mile north of Church Stretton."

Mr Ellery said the country, and Shropshire was at the time in the midst of Storm Doris.

He added: "As the vehicle was being driven north a large ivy coloured tree was blown over onto the Ford Focus, striking its bonnet."

Mr Green had initially been trapped in the car but was freed and taken to hospital for treatment.

Mr Green died at Royal Stoke University Hospital with the cause of death given as ventilator assisted bronchopneumonia, caused by chest trauma, with coronary artery atheroma as a contributing factor.

Mr Ellery recorded a conclusion of accidental death.