Residents’ tributes to popular crash victim

TRIBUTES have been paid to a treasured member of a west Wales community who died following a head-on crash outside Carmarthen.

Bryan Smithers, who was 79, was killed as a result of a two-car collision on the B4312 between the villages of Johnstown and Llansteffan on Tuesday night.

Mr Smithers lived in Llanybri with his wife and was the treasurer of the local hall committee.

Former Carmarthenshire county councillor for the Llansteffan and Llanybri areas Daf Davies reflected on the “awful news”.

“Bryan was well known in the area and was very helpful on the hall committee in Llanybri,” he said. “He was well liked and it is awful news to hear about his passing. My grandson, who works as a porter at Glangwili Hospital, passed the scene of the accident and tried to offer any help to the emergency services.”

Friend and fellow villager Betty Davies said Mr Smithers was a quiet man, but one who was always willing to help out in the community.

She added: “He was the treasurer of the Llanybri Hall Committee and was a lovely friend.

“His loss would be felt in the village and the wider community.”

Police are continuing to investigate the crash, which happened at 10.15pm on Tuesday and involved a maroon Rover 400 and a red Audi A1.

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision is asked to call Carmarthenshire Roads Policing Unit on 101.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, text the nonemergency number on 07811 311 908, quoting reference 459 of August 29.