Family photoTwo people died in a four car pile-up after a 90-year-old man drove more than 450m (1,476 ft) the wrong way down a dual carriageway.
The crash happened on the eastbound carriageway of the A48, Carmarthenshire, between Cross Hands and Pont Abraham.
At about midday on 5 November 2024, John Howell Price’s Toyota hit 30-year-old solicitor Emily Thornton-Sandy’s Ford.
Mr Price died at the scene, while Mrs Thornton-Sandy died six days later, on 11 November, at Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales. Her dog, Scout, also died.
Inquests into the deaths of Mr Price and Mrs Thornton-Sandy were held on Wednesday, at Llanelli Town Hall.
A Renault and BMW, also involved in the crash, were damaged after the Toyota hit the Ford.
According to Dyfed-Powys Police crash investigator David Stacey, Mr Price had pulled out of a junction on the eastbound side of the carriageway near Cross Hands.
He then turned right and drove west in the second lane of the eastbound carriageway.
His car then collided with Mrs Thornton-Sandy’s.
Mr Stacey told the inquest into Mr Price’s death, that the Toyota and Ford both became airborne before other vehicles struck them.
The speedometer inside the Toyota was frozen at 43mph [69km/h], while the Ford’s stopped at 62mph [99km/h]. The speed limit there is 70mph [112km/h].
The inquests were told dashcam and CCTV footage showed Mr Price’s Toyota turning right of the eastbound carriageway in a westbound direction.
Mr Stacey said two days before the crash Mr Price was seen by a medic after fainting or losing consciousness but there was no medical reason he should not have been driving.
There was no evidence, Mr Stacey told the court, either driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs and no evidence either was using a mobile phone, and both were found to have worn seatbelts.
He added that “the road was in a good state of repair and the weather was dry and overcast”.
Mr Stacey said “there is a sign directing traffic to turn left” as you leave the junction, adding that any glare from the sun was “in my opinion not an issue”.
“Why the driver drove the wrong way is unknown,” he said.
He added that Mrs Thornton-Sandy had “little time if any to avoid the Toyota”.
The inquest was told a post-mortem found Mr Price’s death was caused by multiple injuries in the crash.
Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire coroner Paul Bennett recorded a conclusion of road traffic collision.
A statement read at the inquest on behalf of Mr Price’s family said: “John was a kind, considerate, and caring person. He was much-loved by members of his family.”
‘Nobody should have to see their wife as I did’
At the second hearing Mr Stacey confirmed concerns had been raised with the DVLA in 2023 about Mr Price’s eyesight following a matter reported by Dyfed-Powys Police.
He confirmed Mr Price was examined and had an eye test after this. They did not provide sufficient evidence to label him unfit to drive.
Mr Bennett read a statement from Mrs Thornton-Sandy’s husband, Stuart, which said: “Nobody should have to see their wife as I saw Emily in hospital.
“Emily lost her life and I lost my future. I want to do what I can to prevent other families from losing someone in such a cruel way.
“I never envisaged that I would live my life without her. I felt like I lost purpose when I lost Emily and Scout.”
Mr Bennett also read a statement from Mrs Thornton-Sandy’s parents.
They said: “My wife and I are devastated by the loss of our only child Emily.
“She was a kind and caring daughter who was taken from us in a tragedy which was avoidable.”
Mr Bennett said a medical report found Mrs Thornton-Sandy’s cause of death was tension pneumothorax and traumatic brain injury.
He recorded a conclusion of road traffic collision.
