DAD’S TRIBUTE AFTER SON KILLED IN HEAD-ON HIGH SPEED CRASH
Stoke fan suffered brain injury 13 years ago
THE devastated father of a man killed in a road collision has paid tribute to his ‘kind, loving and outgoing’ son.
Stephen Bevans, aged 38, died after his white Peugeot van crashed headon with a Land Rover Discovery on the A53 at Ashley on the evening of August 7 last year.
An inquest into his death at Stokeon-trent Civic Centre heard he had been drinking and had taken cocaine when he decided to overtake several vehicles by contravening a white line and driving on the wrong side of the road.
His van crashed head-on with the Land Rover leaving its driver injured.
Other motorists stopped to help but were unable to free Stephen from his van before it set on fire.
Now Stephen’s dad, Robert Bevans, aged 65, of Blackbrook, near Newcastle, has paid tribute to the passionate Stoke City supporter who suffered a brain injury after being hit by a car in the Dominican Republic when he was aged 25.
Robert said: “After he was injured he came home to live with his mum and and and we became his carers.
“Over a period, it was obvious to the family that Stephen had mental health issues relating to his brain injury. We repeatedly took him to seek medical treatment but were repeatedly told he was OK.
“Gradually over the years Stephen became more independent and was able to lead a more normal life. He was a much loved member of the family, who was a kind, loving, outgoing personality who would befriend anyone. Sometimes he was taken advantage of because of his friendly, trusting nature and he was sometimes easily led.
“He loved to go to Stoke City matches where he made many friends and he also attended England football matches.
“Unfortunately his mental state would cause him problems from time to time and the last time we tried to get help for him we were told by the doctor, he was over 18 and was a consenting adult and mum and dad had nothing to do with it.
“The family are devastated by the sad loss of Stephen. He would have been horrified if he had known someone else involved in the accident was injured, and we would like to wish the injured person a speedy recovery.”
The inquest heard, on August 7, 2019 Stephen, who lived most of his life in Cheadle before moving to Blackbrook with his parents four years ago, visited pubs and drank alcohol.
Motorist Benjamin Thomas and his friend, Gregory Fagg, were driving on the A53 in the direction of Newcastle.
Mr Fagg said: “All of a sudden a white van came tanking it down the outside of me. He was really going. I would estimate up to 100mph.”
The Peugeot van overtook several vehicles on the wrong side of the road before crashing head-on with a Land Rover Discovery. The Land Rover driver was injured.
Forensic collision investigator PC Brian Lovatt said he could not say what the speed of the van was on impact but said it ‘would have been significant’.
Pathologist Dr Paul Simcock, who carried out a post mortem examination, gave the cause of death as ‘multiple injuries following a road traffic collision’.
A toxicology report showed Stephen had 135 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood – above the legal limit for driving of 80. And he had cocaine in his system.
Coroner Andrew Barclay said: “It is my finding of fact that the cocaine was taken proximate to the collision. He did consume it on the night.
“We know he was driving a Peugeot van. There is clear evidence from a number of witnesses who saw it being driven erratically, wheel spinning, driving at excessive speed, and weaving from side to side.
“He overtook a line of vehicles in contravention of a white line. He carried on to take a risk and it cost him his life.”
Mr Barclay concluded: “He died from a motor vehicle collision contributed to by alcohol and cocaine use.”