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| M4 crash driver had heart defect | M4 crash driver had heart defect |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A lorry driver who died after ploughing through the central barrier of the M4 had probably collapsed because of a heart defect, an inquest has heard. | A lorry driver who died after ploughing through the central barrier of the M4 had probably collapsed because of a heart defect, an inquest has heard. |
| It led to the closure of the motorway near Newport for 11 hours causing severe traffic delays for miles around. | It led to the closure of the motorway near Newport for 11 hours causing severe traffic delays for miles around. |
| Colin Hart from Portsmouth had had no idea about his heart condition before the crash in August, the inquest heard. | Colin Hart from Portsmouth had had no idea about his heart condition before the crash in August, the inquest heard. |
| A post-mortem examination revealed a hole in his heart. The coroner recorded an accidental death verdict. | A post-mortem examination revealed a hole in his heart. The coroner recorded an accidental death verdict. |
| The inquest at Newport heard how grandfather-of-five Mr Hart, 55, had been making deliveries to Cardiff when he collapsed at the wheel, crashing through the central barrier and overturning his lorry. | The inquest at Newport heard how grandfather-of-five Mr Hart, 55, had been making deliveries to Cardiff when he collapsed at the wheel, crashing through the central barrier and overturning his lorry. |
| The crash brought long delays for thousands of motorists after the motorway was shut in both directions between J28 (Tredegar Park) and J24 (Coldra). | The crash brought long delays for thousands of motorists after the motorway was shut in both directions between J28 (Tredegar Park) and J24 (Coldra). |
| At its worst, there were 10-mile tailbacks in the morning peak. | At its worst, there were 10-mile tailbacks in the morning peak. |
| Another lorry driver, David John Bowen, gave a statement to the hearing which described how Mr Hart overtook him and forced him into the hard shoulder because he was so close. | |
| The central reservation had to be repaired after the crash Police explain road closure policy | The central reservation had to be repaired after the crash Police explain road closure policy |
| He described how he then noticed Mr Hart's vehicle drifting over the white lines in front of him before the lorry travelled straight on even though the road was bending. | He described how he then noticed Mr Hart's vehicle drifting over the white lines in front of him before the lorry travelled straight on even though the road was bending. |
| "The front hit the intersection and then it turned over blocking three lanes," Mr Bowen said. | "The front hit the intersection and then it turned over blocking three lanes," Mr Bowen said. |
| Pc Keith Rich, who investigated, said 126m of crash barrier was destroyed and four street lights had been taken out. | Pc Keith Rich, who investigated, said 126m of crash barrier was destroyed and four street lights had been taken out. |
| Asked by the coroner if there was evidence of Mr Hart taking any evasive action, the officer replied: "Marks showed the brakes were not applied and no action had been taken before hitting the crash barrier." | Asked by the coroner if there was evidence of Mr Hart taking any evasive action, the officer replied: "Marks showed the brakes were not applied and no action had been taken before hitting the crash barrier." |
| Tachograph readings in the lorry revealed the crash had happened at 0155 BST and the lorry had been travelling at 57 mph. | Tachograph readings in the lorry revealed the crash had happened at 0155 BST and the lorry had been travelling at 57 mph. |
| CCTV footage suggested Mr Hart had not been in perfect control of the lorry for some time before the impact, the officer reported. | CCTV footage suggested Mr Hart had not been in perfect control of the lorry for some time before the impact, the officer reported. |
| We all loved him very much, he had become a grandfather the night he left Ellen Hart, widow | We all loved him very much, he had become a grandfather the night he left Ellen Hart, widow |
| The coroner was told that despite receiving treatment for a circulatory problem in his legs, Mr Hart had not been aware of any heart condition. | The coroner was told that despite receiving treatment for a circulatory problem in his legs, Mr Hart had not been aware of any heart condition. |
| A post-mortem examination revealed his congenital heart condition which carried a significant risk of erratic heartbeat and probably caused him to collapse at the wheel. | |
| The cause of death was multiple fatal injuries. | The cause of death was multiple fatal injuries. |
| Following the hearing, Mr Hart's family described him as their "gentle giant" who would do anything for anyone. | Following the hearing, Mr Hart's family described him as their "gentle giant" who would do anything for anyone. |
| His wife Ellen said: "We all loved him very much, he had become a grandfather the night he left and was about to give his daughter away (at her wedding). | His wife Ellen said: "We all loved him very much, he had become a grandfather the night he left and was about to give his daughter away (at her wedding). |
| "It was a very huge shock, it's difficult every day." | "It was a very huge shock, it's difficult every day." |
| His daughter Amanda England told how she married days later, saying: "It's what my dad would have wanted. | His daughter Amanda England told how she married days later, saying: "It's what my dad would have wanted. |
| "It was hard - it was the hardest day of my life even though it is meant to be the happiest." | "It was hard - it was the hardest day of my life even though it is meant to be the happiest." |