Couple on date killed after high-speed crash
AMOTHER-OF-TWO was killed when her date lost control of a BMW and swerved suddenly across three lanes of the M4 before hitting a tree.
Passenger Sarah-Jayne Thomas was 28 when she died at the scene of the high-speed motorway crash and driver Tim Grace was 31 when he died in hospital the next day.
An inquest in Pontypridd heard Mr Grace was at twice the legal drink-drive limit and did not have a full driving licence or insurance.
The incident happened on the M4 near Pyle, between Porthcawl and Margam, at around 3pm on June 12.
In a statement Mr Grace’s mother, Gillian Grace, said about two weeks before the incident he mentioned meeting a “lovely girl” called Sarah who worked as a hairdresser.
She said she spoke to her son the day before the collision and he sounded “really upbeat and happy”.
The inquest heard Louis Baker, a waiter at Miller & Carter steakhouse in Cardiff Bay, observed a couple enter the restaurant just before midday on June 12.
He said the man was drinking white wine and ordered two bottles in a short space of time, while the woman was drinking cocktails.
Philip Smith, who worked at the nearby Grosvenor Casino, said he served a couple cocktails just after 1.30pm. He added: “Both the male and the female seemed drunk.”
Investigating officer PC Alun Efstathiou said Mr Grace, driving a BMW X5, was seen to perform a “dangerous manoeuvre” when he joined the motorway, causing
another motorist to brake suddenly.
Witness Richard Fuge said he saw the BMW driving “at a very high speed”.
He added: “I was driving at 70mph and it passed me as if I was stationary. I would say it was maxed out and could not go any faster.”
Mr Fuge estimated the speed at “130mph-plus”.
Paramedic Andy Ashdown said he arrived at the scene just after 3pm and found the driver “slumped forward” unconscious. He said the passenger was trapped and unresponsive.
Mr Grace was taken to intensive care at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, where he was treated for a “severe brain injury”.
He was found to have diazepam and high levels of alcohol in his blood. A doctor said when taken together they can increase the effects of dizziness and impaired co-ordination.
Mr Grace was found to have around 156 milligrammes of alcohol per decilitre of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrammes. A doctor said the effect would have depended on his tolerance.
His medical cause of death was recorded as a traumatic brain injury.
PC Efstathiou said Mr Grace had been airlifted to hospital when he arrived at the scene.
The inquest heard the last call Mr Grace made was to a friend, who told the officer he “sounded drunk”.
The officer confirmed Mr Grace did not hold a full driving licence – he only had a provisional licence and was not displaying L-plates. Passenger Miss Thomas was not a qualified driver, the inquest heard, while Mr Grace did not have insurance for the vehicle.
Forensic collision investigator Pc Carlo Vaquerizo said the incident happened just after a “long, sweeping right-hand bend”.
The inquest heard the car swerved across all three lanes before the front nearside hit a tree on the embankment.
PC Vaquerizo said: “The vehicle was out of control.”
He confirmed the weather was fine and dry and there were no defects with the road surface.
The BMW had an advisory regarding the front brake pads at its last MoT but those were replaced. The driver and passenger were both wearing seatbelts at the time.
The investigator said he estimated the car was travelling between 88mph and 102mph with the speed likely to have been 95mph or above.
Mum of two Miss Thomas, from Penlan in Swansea, died at the scene.
Her medical cause of death was found to be multiple injuries including a fractured spine, leg, and foot. Her spinal injuries were described as “particularly devastating”.
Mother Susan Thomas said her daughter was “fit and healthy” and her doctor confirmed she had no significant medical history.
Dad of two Mr Grace, from Treboeth in Swansea, died in hospital a day after the crash.
His GP confirmed he had been diagnosed with depression in 2011 and prescribed various medications on and off since then.
The coroner recorded conclusions of road traffic collision contributed to by alcohol.
He said to the families: “I pass on my condolences.”