Bus-death dad may have been distracted by phone – inquest

A “loving and caring” dad may have been “distracted” by his mobile phone when he walked in front of a bus, an inquest heard.

Paul Stanley Lenihan , 46, from Morriston, died following the crash in Swansea on Friday, January 27.

He went to cross the road and was hit by a First Cymru single-decker bus heading into Woodfield Street.

South Wales Police PC Paul Jones gave evidence at the hearing at Swansea Coroner’s Court yesterday, and read witness statements of passengers on the bus when it hit Mr Lenihan.

PC Jones read a witness statement by passenger David Mitchell, who said: “I saw something hit the windscreen, causing it to crack.

“It was as if it had come from nowhere. At this point I didn’t even know if it was a person.”

“The driver said ‘I have hit someone’. He sounded hysterical. Other passengers started to get off the bus.”

He added: “I don’t believe the driver had a chance to stop even if he had seen him.”

PC Jones also read a statement given by the bus driver, Andrew Powe.

Mr Powe said: “I remember he [Mr Lenihan] was holding something in his hand and was looking down.”

PC Smith, who attended the scene, said: “At the moment he walked out, the collision was unavoidable.”

He added that Mr Lenihan had what appeared to have an illuminated mobile in his hand and that it was “entirely plausible” it “diverted his attention from his surroundings”.

Coroner Colin Phillips recorded an accidental conclusion and that the cause of death was from crush injuries.