Footballer killed in crash 'fell asleep at the wheel'

Ryan John Craddock, aged 18, from Cannock, died when his black Seat Ibiza crashed into a Mansel Davies tanker on the A470 in Dolgellau, near the Cross Foxes pub on July 1 last year.

At an inquest in Caernarfon last month, coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones concluded that the Tamworth FC’s Under 21s player died of multiple traumatic injuries including a skull fracture as a result of the accident.

Mr Craddock and his friends Joshua James Mousley and Jayden John Peters had been visiting Barmouth on June 30 for the night for an "unexpected break away" and had slept in the back of Mr Craddock's car.

Mr Jones says he suspected that Mr Craddock, who was pronounced dead at the scene, had "nodded off" during the journey due to being tired from the night before.

Mr Jones said: "On Sunday July 1 2018 Mr Craddock was driving his car in the south east direction.

"From the evidence provided I am satisfied that he was driving at a normally and his speed limit can in no way be criticised.

"After leaving Dolgellau they were in a steady stream of traffic when a 40-ton tanker approached in the opposite direction and for some reason Mr Craddock's vehicle drifted well on to the wrong side of the road.

"The driver of the tanker had very little time to react and turned to the right at the same moment that Mr Craddock attempted to avoid the collision by steering back on to his side of the road.

"The two passengers (in Mr Craddock's car) are very lucky to have survived.

"I can say for certain that the car pulled out into the incorrect side of the road and there is evidence to suggest that he did not pull out with the intent of overtaking.

"I would say Mr Craddock was distracted and had not had a good night sleep the night before and the fact that the other two in the car were also asleep indicates that they were all fairly tired.

"I suspect Mr Craddock nodded off and when he woke up he tried to correct his positioning.

"It was an entirely unforseen and unanticipated event."

Mr Jones also concluded that neither alcohol nor drugs were a factor in this incident.

He also reassured the family who attended the inquest that Mr Craddock would not have suffered during his death.

His friends were also seriously injured in the accident and were airlifted to Royal Stoke Hospital in a critical condition following the crash at around 5.30pm.

Mr Mousley, who was sitting in the front passenger seat when the incident occurred, said he fell asleep but was awoken by "cars beeping" and he noticed that Mr Craddock, known as 'Crad' to his friends, had began drifting on to the wrong side of the road.

He said: "Ryan was driving and I was sitting in the front, Jay was in the back.

"We both fell asleep but I woke up when we started veering off, I think it was because I heard beeping horns and I shouted 'Crad what are you doing?'

"I think he must have fallen asleep, maybe he wouldn't have if us two hadn't fallen asleep.

"I saw the oncoming tanker swerve to avoid us and Crad turned the car but I don't remember any more after that."

Mr Mousley sustained facial lacerations due to the windscreen shattering, a collapsed lung and broken ribs.

He worked as a labourer, however his passion was football and he played for the Stafford Rangers Under 18s team before playing for the Tamworth Under 21s team.

In the days after he died, his parents paid tribute to their "happy, kind, thoughtful and loving son".