Tragic death-crash driver had been sniffing gas – inquest
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A MAN who died after crashing into a parked car had inhaled gas, an inquest has heard.
Gavin David Edmunds, 27, died after he drove his Renault Megane into a parked and unattended Vauxhall Corsa.
The incident took place on Margaret Street in Hopkinstown, Pontypridd, at about 10.20pm on August 6.
At an inquest held into his death at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court yesterday, the coroner was told Mr Edmunds was pulled out of the vehicle after the crash took place. He was taken to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, and paramedics spent 45 minutes trying to resuscitate him, but he later died.
Reading evidence at the inquest, Coroner Andrew Barkley read a statement on behalf of a resident of Margaret Street.
He said she recalled hearing “a loud bang” at about 10.15pm which was also heard by other neighbours, but nobody is believed to have witnessed the incident.
The inquest also heard a statement issued by Dionne Leigh Morgan who was previously in a relationship with Mr Edmunds. The inquest heard they had been speaking on Facebook for a few weeks before meeting up earlier this year. They stayed friends after the relationship ended and she spent time with Mr Edmunds on the day the crash took place.
According to Ms Morgan, Mr Edmunds spent some time “sniffing” volatile substances.
The statement read: “I asked him not to do that around me because I used to do it and managed to stop. It was the last time we were going to see each other. Gavin told me he was going home and that he would Facetime me when he got home.”
The inquest was told a few items, including cannisters, were found in Mr Edmunds’ car.
PC Chris Street, from the South Wales Police Collision Investigation Unit, told the inquest the airbags weren’t activated, which suggests it’s unlikely he was travelling very fast.
The inquest was told Mr Edmunds had suffered with depression within the past year. He was prescribed anti-depressants in 2017. The inquest heard Mr Edmunds was last assessed back in 2017 and, at the time, he denied partaking in any alcohol or substance misuse.
A statement read on behalf of Mr Edmunds’ mother, Carol Edmunds, revealed her son had a “very happy childhood”. She said the family have been left distraught by his death. Ms Edmunds said Mr Edmunds, from Trealaw, Tonypandy, was very close to his family.
Dr Derek James gave the medical cause of death as the inhalation of butane and propane.
Mr Barkley adopted this when he came to his conclusion. He said: “The real evidence for the cause of death is found from the evidence of the post-mortem. There is evidence of propane and butane. Cannisters were found in the car.”
Mr Barkley concluded that the death was drug related.