LawSwansea widow’s road safety plea after husband fatally injured in head-on crash
A widow has revealed how her family “has been ripped apart” after her husband died following a head-on crash during a weekend break.
John and Debbie Evans, of Manselton, Swansea, were seriously injured when their car was hit by a Peugeot 308 which swerved into their path to avoid running into the back of another vehicle.
John had to be cut free from their Hyundai IX20 by firefighters. He suffered a number of serious injuries, including spinal fractures. The emergency services helped Debbie from the car.
Following the crash, which happened on 14 January, 2023, Debbie, who was also injured, was discharged from hospital. However, John, a former senior systems analyst and keen Swansea City fan, was kept in hospital due to the severity of his injuries.
He underwent surgery on 19 January but died aged 60 the following day.
Debbie instructed specialist road accident lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help her access the specialist rehabilitation and support she requires.
The mum-of-two has now joined with her legal team in urging drivers to take care on the roads.
It comes after the driver of a Peugeot 308 which crashed into the couple’s vehicle, was sentenced. They had previously pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.
Laura Bailey, the specialist road accident lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Debbie, said after the hearing: “Debbie and the rest of John’s family remain traumatised by his death and the circumstances surrounding it.
“Sadly, through our work we see too often the devastating consequences families can be left to face through the actions of others on the roads. Nothing highlights this more vividly than what happened to John.
“We continue to support Debbie to help her try to come to terms with her loss the best she can. However, we join her in urging all road users to take care at all times to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured.”
John and Debbie had been married for 39 years and had a son and daughter Joel and Chloe aged 31 and 28.
The couple were on a break in Warwickshire when the collision happened on the A4189 in Claverdon, near Warwick.
The couple were driving along Station Road towards Warwick town centre when a Peugeot 308 swerved into their path to avoid running into the back of another car waiting to turn right into Star Lane, Warwick Crown Court was told.
Debbie said after the hearing: “We were driving into Warwick for a look around. The next thing I remember was feeling a huge jolt and asking John what had happened.
“John started panicking and saying he was dying. There was a lot of smoke in the car because the air bags had gone off and I remember I thought I was also dying because the pain was that bad.
“I remember someone coming to the side of the car to help and the emergency services arrived quickly.
“By that stage everything was a blur. I was very upset and panicking.
“I knew John was in a bad way and I could hear in his voice he was frightened but nothing could prepare me for what was to come. Seeing him in hospital in those final few hours was awful.
“It’s still too difficult to understand how one moment we were enjoying a weekend away and then the next our family had been ripped apart.
“John was one of the good guys. He was an amazing husband and a wonderful dad. Nothing was ever too much trouble for him.
“John was my everything and now that he’s gone there’s a huge void in my life that cannot be filled.
“We should have had many more years together, but I feel I’ve been robbed of these because of the crash. All of us miss John and his kind and caring nature.
“I know nothing can ever make up for what’s happened. All I can hope for now is that by speaking out drivers realise the hurt and pain they can cause and why it’s so important everyone takes care on the roads.”
The driver received a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years. He was also given an 18-month driving ban with an extended retest, 250 hours’ unpaid community work and a three-month curfew. The hearing took place on 5 July at Warwick Crown Court.
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