Young man killed on road was lying in path of traffic
A MUSICIAN who died after being hit by a car on the Heads of the Valleys had been lying in the road moments before his death, an inquest has heard.
Lewis Popp, 23, was spotted lying on the A465 in Merthyr Tydfil in the dark just moments before he was hit by a car on Sunday, September 9.
Yesterday an inquest at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court heard how Mr Popp, of Holford Street, Cefn Coed, had discussed suicidal thoughts with neighbours in the days before his death, before spending the day drinking and playing his guitar with friends.
Musician Adam Edwards told the inquest he had spent time with Mr Popp on Saturday, September 8, in The Lord Raglan Inn before they went to a friend’s house.
In a statement read in court, Mr Edwards said: “That was when [Mr Popp] told us he was gay. He seemed relieved he had told us. We immediately told him we were cool with it and it was no issue. He had not said anything to give us cause for concern. He had not displayed any behaviour that was out of the ordinary.”
But when Mr Edwards woke up during the early hours of the morning of September 9, Mr Popp was gone.
Mr Edwards said: “When I woke up at 4.30am he was not there. I tried ringing him and found he had left his phone and stuff.”
On the morning of the incident, hospital worker Huw Thomas was driving eastbound on the A465 at Cefn Coed at around 6am when a Land Rover Freelander in front of him swerved to the right.
In a statement, Mr Thomas said: “As we approached the next bridge, the 4x4 swerved suddenly to the righthand side. I did not have any time to have any evasive action. The front of my car collided with an object. I stopped and saw it was a person. I was in total shock.”
Jay Alexander Williams, who was driving the Land Rover Freelander, said in a statement: “All of a sudden I saw something in the road in front of me. I initially thought it was a plastic bag. I realised it was a person lying in the road. As soon as I realised it was a person, I swerved to the right-hand side sharply.”
Mr Popp was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene at 6.19am.
In a statement summarised by Coroner Ian Boyes, Mr Popp’s mother Andrea described her son as a unique, intellectual student who had taught himself to play the guitar after discovering a passion for music.
After spending time in hospital due to mental health issues, she said her son had been determined to be independent, renting a cottage and working as a steward at festivals.
Two days before his death Mrs Popp said she had taken her son to see his social care co-ordinator over worries he was having a “psychotic episode”. After a discussion, Mr Popp appeared “calmer”, promising to return the Monday after the appointment for further support.
But the hearing was told that during a discussion with neighbours that weekend, he admitted to having suicidal thoughts.
A post-mortem revealed Mr Popp died as a result of multiple injuries including disruption to the skull. A toxicology report found 67mg of alcohol in Mr Popp’s blood.
Mr Boyes said: “There is evidence to suggest the use of cannabis and cocaine in the time prior to his death.”
The coroner said he was unable to determine how Mr Popp came to be lying in the road. Recording a conclusion of accidental death by way of road traffic accident, Mr Boyes said there was insufficient evidence to suggest Mr Popp intended suicide.