THE MAN who died following a fatal car crash in Blaenavon has been named as Shaun Pearce as his inquest opened yesterday.

Gwent Coroner David Bowen officially opened and adjourned the inquest of the 46-year-old Blaina man’s death.

The coroner’s officer, David Arnold, recalled how Gwent Police were summoned to reports of a two vehicle traffic collision at 4.18pm on Friday May 2, on the Cwmavon Road, near Blaenavon.

On arrival, officers discovered the driver, later identified by family as Mr Pearce, had suffered serious injuries.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death given at yesterday’s inquest opening, was bilateral rib fractures and haemothorax, caused by blunt trauma.

Mr Pearce was the sole occupant of the Subaru car he was travelling in. The driver of the other vehicle, a red Peugeot 207, was a 23-year-old woman from the Beaufort area who suffered minor injuries and was taken to Abergavenny’s Nevill Hall Hospital.

Ambulance and fire crews were also called to the scene. A Welsh Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Two rapid response vehicles, two emergency ambulances and a BASICS doctor attended, and two people were taken to Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny.”

A post mortem examination was carried out at the Royal Gwent Hospital. Mr Pearce’s body was released to the family for funeral arrangements and the inquest is adjourned for eight weeks.

Following the accident, the Cwmavon Road was closed in both directions between the Shop Road junction and the Capel Newydd Avenue junction and wasn’t reopened until around 9.30pm.

Police investigations are still continuing. Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call Gwent Police on 101, quoting log 317.