Coroner to contact highways officials about junction layout following inquests

TWO people died after a car entered the A48 near Cross Hands in the wrong direction and continued for nearly half a kilometre before striking another vehicle head-on, an inquest has heard.

The crash happened shortly after midday on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, on the eastbound side of the dual carriageway between Pont Abraham and Cross Hands. Four vehicles were ultimately damaged.

Toyota travelled against oncoming traffic for 452 metres

The hearings, which took place on Wednesday (December 3) at Llanelli Town Hall, examined the deaths of John Howell Price, aged 90, and Emily Thornton-Sandy, a 30-year-old solicitor.

Evidence from Dyfed-Powys Police showed that Mr Price had driven a Toyota out of a small access road serving a Welsh Water site. Instead of turning left, as the signage directs, his vehicle turned right into lane two of the A48 and began travelling westbound against fast-moving traffic.

Forensic investigator David Stacey told the court that the Toyota continued in the wrong direction for approximately 452 metres before colliding with Mrs Thornton-Sandy’s Ford. The impact caused both cars to become airborne and resulted in secondary impacts with a Renault and a BMW.

Mr Price died at the scene. Mrs Thornton-Sandy was taken to the University Hospital of Wales but succumbed to her injuries six days later, on November 11. Her dog, Scout, who was travelling with her, also died.

Road conditions not a factor

Mr Stacey said the carriageway was dry, visibility was good and the surface was in proper condition. There were no signs of emergency braking by either driver.

He confirmed that both cars’ speedometers froze on collision — the Toyota at 43mph and the Ford at 62mph — and that there was no evidence of alcohol, drugs or mobile-phone use by either party.

Dashcam and CCTV recordings examined by officers captured the Toyota making the unlawful turn and heading straight into oncoming traffic.

Medical checks explored

The inquest heard that Mr Price had been seen by a medic two days before the crash following an episode of syncope. The court was told that the incident did not result in any driving restriction, and subsequent checks — including after a 2023 police referral to the DVLA about his eyesight — did not deem him medically unfit to drive.

Mr Stacey said Mrs Thornton-Sandy had virtually “no time” to react when the wrong-way vehicle appeared in her lane.

Cause of death and coroner’s findings

Pathologists concluded that Mr Price died from multiple injuries sustained in the collision. Mrs Thornton-Sandy died from traumatic brain injury and tension pneumothorax.

Coroner Paul Bennett ruled both deaths were the result of road traffic collisions. He said it was not possible to determine why Mr Price made the manoeuvre.

He noted that three people received organ donations as a result of Mrs Thornton-Sandy’s death.

Junction safety to be reviewed

Mr Bennett said he would write to the South Wales Trunk Road Agency and Carmarthenshire Council regarding the junction design, and referred to upcoming changes in driving-licence renewal rules for motorists over 70.

GAVIN & STACEY favourites Joanna Page and Mathew Horne have reunited on screen for a Christmas special – though not the one fans might have hoped for. Instead of returning to Barry or Billericay, the duo appear together in a new festive advert for Waitrose, sharing a turkey pie while responding to a fan’s heartfelt letter about expressing love through food.

The short film marks their appearance in How to Say It With Food, a six-part series in which Page and Horne tackle some of the nation’s most common Christmas food dilemmas. The clip opens with Page teasingly nodding to their iconic sitcom: “Oh, you didn’t think we’d let Christmas roll around without showing up again, did you?”

Horne quickly follows with his own playful line: “Us? Miss Christmas? Not a chance. But this time we’re here to help you say it with food.”

The pair are then handed an envelope “from Santa”, containing a letter from a viewer asking how he can show his “leading lady” he loves her through food. Mathew quips: “First time saying it, you want a statement. Sixteenth time, you want a statement that doesn’t involve socks.”

He then introduces Waitrose’s new Christmas advert starring Keira Knightley and Joe Wilkinson. The main campaign follows an unlikely festive romance sparked by Sussex Charmer cheese and culminating in Wilkinson presenting Knightley with a turkey pie decorated with the words “I love you”. Watching the moment unfold, Page smiles at Horne and mirrors another classic Gavin & Stacey reference: “Oh, that’s so romantic.”

The duo are soon given their own turkey pie to try. Horne eagerly tucks in before cutting Page a slice, prompting laughter from his co-star. The advert ends with the pair wishing viewers a Merry Christmas as Knightley and Wilkinson share a warm festive kiss on screen.

The reunion comes almost a year after audiences tuned in to the BBC sitcom’s much-anticipated finale, which drew an impressive 12.3 million viewers on Christmas Day. The episode wrapped up storylines including Gwen’s blossoming romance with Dave Coaches, Smithy’s near-wedding to Sonia, and the moment fans had long debated – Smithy and Nessa tying the knot.

Reflecting on the new project, Page said: “You thought you’d seen the last of us! Well, we’re back and what fun we had.” She added: “It was such a treat working with Mat… food is what brings people together over the festive season.”

Horne described the experience as “brilliant”, calling their on-screen reunion “a Christmas tradition”.

4.4 million working-age people now claiming sickness or incapacity benefit, up by 1.2 million since 2019, many because of a mental health condition

A CLINICAL review into how mental health conditions are diagnosed across the UK is expected to begin this week, following concerns within government over rapidly rising sickness-benefit claims linked to conditions such as autism, ADHD and anxiety.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has commissioned leading clinical experts to examine whether ordinary emotional distress is being “over-pathologised” and to assess why the number of people receiving sickness and incapacity benefits has grown to 4.4 million – an increase of 1.2 million since 2019.

According to reports in The Times, ministers are particularly alarmed by the surge in the number of 16- to 34-year-olds now out of work because of long-term mental health conditions.

Streeting said he recognised “from personal experience how devastating it can be for people who face poor mental health, have ADHD or autism and can’t get a diagnosis or the right support,” but added that he had also heard from clinicians who say diagnoses are “sharply rising”.

“We must look at this through a strictly clinical lens to get an evidence-based understanding of what we know, what we don’t know, and what these patterns tell us about our mental health system, autism and ADHD services,” he told the newspaper. “That’s the only way we can ensure everyone gets timely access to accurate diagnosis and effective support.”

The review is expected to be chaired by Prof Peter Fonagy, a clinical psychologist at University College London specialising in child mental health, with Sir Simon Wessely, former president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, acting as vice-chair.

Prof Fonagy said the panel would “examine the evidence with care – from research, from people with lived experience and from clinicians working at the frontline of mental health, autism and ADHD services – to understand, in a grounded way, what is driving rising demand.”

The move comes as the UK Government faces mounting pressure over the rising welfare bill. Ministers earlier this year pulled back from proposed changes to disability benefits, including those affecting people with mental health conditions, after opposition from Labour backbenchers.

Speaking on Monday, the Prime Minister said a fresh round of welfare reform was needed.

Keir Starmer said: “We’ve got to transform it; we also have to confront the reality that our welfare state is trapping people, not just in poverty, but out of work.”