A tragic incident on the A48 in Carmarthenshire resulted in the loss of life for a woman and her dog due to a four-car collision caused by a 90-year-old driver driving the wrong way down the dual carriageway. The collision involved a Toyota driven by John Howell Price and a Ford driven by Emily Thornton-Sandy, a solicitor, on November 5, 2024.
Following the crash, emergency services responded to the scene, but unfortunately, Mr. Price passed away on-site, while Mrs. Thornton-Sandy succumbed to her injuries at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff six days later. The inquests for both individuals were conducted on December 3 at Llanelli Town Hall, with forensic collision investigator David Stacey providing evidence.
Investigations revealed that Mr. Price drove over 450 meters in the wrong direction before colliding with Mrs. Thornton-Sandy’s vehicle. It was noted that both drivers were wearing seatbelts during the crash, and there was no evidence of alcohol or drug influence or excessive speed.
The inquest also highlighted concerns raised regarding Mr. Price’s vision, which had been reported to the DVLA in 2023. Despite medical assessments, no evidence suggested he was unfit to drive. The inquest concluded with a formal short-form verdict of a road traffic collision for both Mr. Price and Mrs. Thornton-Sandy.
Statements from family members emphasized the devastating impact of the incident, urging others to address concerns about elderly relatives’ driving abilities. Mrs. Thornton-Sandy’s cause of death was determined to be tension pneumothorax and traumatic brain injury. The inquest acknowledged three individuals who received life-saving organs from her donation.