A man who was involved in a high-speed crash near Llanfair Caereinion died weeks later in hospital after having problems weaning off his ventilator, an inquest has heard.
William Edward Evans, from Welshpool, was 79 years old when he was airlifted to hospital with multiple injuries following a two-vehicle collision on the A458 between Cyfronydd and Llanfair Caereinion on October 31, 2022 which also injured two other people.
An opening inquest heard that Mr Evans died in hospital on January 4 from aspiration pneumonia, chest injury secondary to a high-speed collision and chronic obstructive airways disease.
Dyfed-Powys Police said enquiries into the crash are ongoing.
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Pontypridd Coroner’s Court heard that Mr Evans was admitted to the Royal Stoke University Hospital’s Intensive Therapy Unit to treat his serious injuries before being transferred to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on December 5.
The 79-year-old had difficulty weaning off his ventilator and had other problems such as feeling weak, sudden confusion and trouble swallowing.
The inquest was told that Mr Evans’ was eventually weaned off the ventilator but subsequently aspirated on January 4 and then deteriorated.
Following a discussion between Mr Evans’ family and clinicians at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, it was decided that his care would be switched to palliative.
Pontypridd Coroners’ Court said no further date for a full inquest into Mr Evans’ death has been set.
The two-vehicle crash between Cyfronydd and Llanfair Caereinion at around 1pm on Hallowe’en last year closed the road for four hours while emergency services dealt with the incident.
Two other people involved in the crash were taken for treatment at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital by ambulance.
What happens at an inquest and what can the press report?
Reporting on inquests is one of the most difficult jobs faced by any journalist, but there are important reasons why local newspapers attend coroner’s court hearings and report on proceedings.
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