A driver who caused the crash that killed a nurse was more than three times the legal drink-drive limit, heard an inquest in Caernarfon.
Gemma Pasague Adran tragically died when her Honda Civic, driven by her partner Warren Culaton, was hit by a Seat Leon, with Sara Anest Jones at the wheel, who later passed away in hospital from her injuries.
Ms Jones had left a note, which just said ‘sorry’, in a rucksack in her car which, according to a witness at the inquest, “looked as if it had turned sharp right” into the Honda on the A4087 between the Faenol roundabout and Bangor in Gwynedd on March 30 last year, , reports North Wales Live.
The inquest heard that, although Ms Jones had had mental health issues, she had denied having suicidal thoughts on all but one occasion in the years before the collision.
A full inquest was held in Caernarfon on Wednesday (May 25) into the death of Ms Adran, 32, a popular nurse who came from the Philippines and lived in Bangor. An assistant coroner concluded that she died as a result of a road accident.
Ms Jones, of Corwen, was taken to hospital after the crash and died in Stoke two days later. An inquest into her death is expected to be held in Stoke next month.
On Wednesday, Sarah Riley, assistant coroner for North West Wales, heard that Ms Adran, who was the front seat passenger in the Honda Civic, and her partner Warren Culaton, had both finished a shift in Porthmadog and were travelling home to Bangor.
They had grown up in the Philippines, met at work in Saudi Arabia and moved to Gwynedd.
Witness Sarah Hicks was driving her Fiat car towards Bangor on the night of the crash, and was behind Ms Adran’s Honda at 9.10pm.
She said in a statement: “As we exited the roundabout, I saw really bright headlights in the oncoming lane. A car was travelling really fast. Suddenly it looked as if it had turned sharp right into the Honda Civic.
“The impact of the cars appeared to explode into hundreds of pieces which in turn showered my car. I was in shock.
“Without doubt the driver of the blue car was totally to blame for this collision, as it was travelling much too fast.”
Ms Hicks’ passenger Carwen Williams added: “It appeared it (the blue Seat car) lost control and headed straight into the car in front.”
The inquest heard that Tesco delivery driver Peter Milburn stopped and helped direct emergency services to the scene. He said: “The (blue Seat) vehicle was most definitely travelling in excess of 60mph.”
The impact of the crash was such that the Seat’s engine was torn off its mountings and it ended up on its side. The Honda was also badly damaged.
A medic pronounced Ms Adran dead at the scene. Mr Culaton suffered serious injuries, but survived and was at the inquest. Ms Jones was taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd and transferred to the Royal Stoke University Hospital, where she died two days later.
At the inquest, Ms Jones’ family said through a solicitor that they were “desperately sorry” for the loss of Ms Adran. Their solicitor Richard Ottley said there were wine bottles in the car and a note saying “sorry” in a rucksack, but also suggested that the cause of the accident was ultimately unknown.
Mr Ottley told the inquest it could have been due to Ms Jones’ excessive speed, her poor driving, an animal in the road or a “deliberate act”.
Forensic collision investigator Gavin Davies said enquiries showed Ms Jones was three times over the drink drive limit, with a reading of 277 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
He said footage showed she “seemed to struggle with spatial awareness” and had to brake several times before the crash.
But he said: “I am unable to determine why Ms Jones steered into the opposite lane. There was no reason that would explain that movement.
“I would conclude that the most likely cause of the collision was the human action of Ms Jones due to her level of intoxication.”
Questioned by Mr Ottley, he accepted that he couldn’t say that intoxication was the “probable” explanation. Asked if it could have been a deliberate act by Ms Jones, the investigator Mr Davies said he “couldn’t confirm or deny that”.
Mr Culaton, who had been with his partner for five years and who was deputy manager at Meddyg Care in Porthmadog, described the moments after the crash.
He said: “I shouted ‘honey’, but I couldn’t wake her. I have lost my partner. Maybe she was taken because she was more of an angel.
“I don’t want to blame the other person, but she has taken everything from me. I hope she also finds peace. I’m sure she did not mean for any of this to happen.”
Mr Culaton, who is also a nurse, added that Ms Adran’s father Geronimo Adran, known as Gerry, cries every time his late daughter’s name is mentioned.
Assistant coroner Sarah Riley found Ms Adran died from severe chest trauma and multiple skeletal injuries. She concluded her death was due to a road traffic accident.
