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Faulty tyre behind crash deaths | Faulty tyre behind crash deaths |
(about 23 hours later) | |
A coroner has urged motorists to regularly check their vehicles after hearing a "dangerously defective" tyre was the cause of a head-on crash. | A coroner has urged motorists to regularly check their vehicles after hearing a "dangerously defective" tyre was the cause of a head-on crash. |
John Read, 49, and Zohiab Hanif, 19, both died after the collision on Cwmbach Road in Swansea last July. | |
An inquest heard Mr Hanif lost control of his Toyota which crossed to the oncoming lane and into Mr Read's path. | |
The coroner recorded narrative verdicts after viewing the Toyota tyre which was totally bald in places. | The coroner recorded narrative verdicts after viewing the Toyota tyre which was totally bald in places. |
Security guard Mr Read was travelling along the road from Waunarlydd towards Cockett in a Suzuki Grand Vitara while Mr Hanif, a student, was driving a Toyota MR2 in the opposite direction. | |
Witness Anthony James told the inquest he saw the crash, around 1655 BST on 14 July, in his rear view mirror. | Witness Anthony James told the inquest he saw the crash, around 1655 BST on 14 July, in his rear view mirror. |
He said the Toyota strayed into the oncoming lane as it negotiated a bend. | He said the Toyota strayed into the oncoming lane as it negotiated a bend. |
"There was nothing the Vitara driver could have done to avoid the collision," he added. | "There was nothing the Vitara driver could have done to avoid the collision," he added. |
But for the defect of this tyre I'm sure we would not be sitting here today Philip Rogers, coroner | But for the defect of this tyre I'm sure we would not be sitting here today Philip Rogers, coroner |
Both drivers were taken to Morriston Hospital but Mr Read died of multiple injuries and Mr Hanif of chest injuries. | |
South Wales Police accident investigator Phil Painting told the inquest that he inspected both vehicles and found a rear tyre on the Toyota to be defective. | South Wales Police accident investigator Phil Painting told the inquest that he inspected both vehicles and found a rear tyre on the Toyota to be defective. |
It was produced as evidence and had little or no tread all the way around. | It was produced as evidence and had little or no tread all the way around. |
He said it was his opinion that the tyre had deflated before the collision causing Mr Hanif to oversteer as he negotiated the corner. | He said it was his opinion that the tyre had deflated before the collision causing Mr Hanif to oversteer as he negotiated the corner. |
Mr Hanif's car had been impounded the previous month as he was caught driving without insurance but there were no records of the defect being noticed at that time. | Mr Hanif's car had been impounded the previous month as he was caught driving without insurance but there were no records of the defect being noticed at that time. |
Coroner Philip Rogers said it would be "too simplistic" to record verdicts of accidental death. | Coroner Philip Rogers said it would be "too simplistic" to record verdicts of accidental death. |
In Mr Hanif's case he said the deceased died in Morriston Hospital on 14 July having been involved in a road traffic accident when the Toyota car he was driving, which had a "seriously defective" rear tyre, crossed into the east bound carriageway hitting a Suzuki vehicle, the driver of which was also killed. | In Mr Hanif's case he said the deceased died in Morriston Hospital on 14 July having been involved in a road traffic accident when the Toyota car he was driving, which had a "seriously defective" rear tyre, crossed into the east bound carriageway hitting a Suzuki vehicle, the driver of which was also killed. |
He said having viewed the "dangerously defective" tyre it was "incumbent on us all that the tyres on our motor vehicles should be regularly checked." | He said having viewed the "dangerously defective" tyre it was "incumbent on us all that the tyres on our motor vehicles should be regularly checked." |
"But for the defect of this tyre I'm sure we would not be sitting here today," he added. | "But for the defect of this tyre I'm sure we would not be sitting here today," he added. |
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