Man's car death 'accident' - inquest hears

5:40pm Friday 16th May 2008

A GWENT man hit by a car on Usk Way, Newport, was killed accidentally, an inquest was told.

The hearing into the death of Michael Powell, 54, heard how the former miner was "thrown like a rag doll" after stepping out onto the dual carriageway and colliding with a Rover MG Z2 on November 13 last year.

Gwent deputy coroner, Wendy James, said the driver of the car, Lynsey Farr, could not be held accountable for Mr Powell's death.

She said: "Miss Farr was confronted suddenly and unexpectedly by a pedestrian on the carriageway and she would have had no time to take effective evasive action.

"I conclude that the proper verdict is that of accidental death."

Miss Farr was travelling along Usk Way towards Newport city centre when Mr Powell stepped from the curb.

Witness Eric Sell described the moment of impact: "He was thrown like a rag doll about six to eight feet into the air."

The hearing was told how Mr Powell had battled alcohol addiction for some time and Ms James concluded it may have contributed to the accident.

"I am sure he did not walk out into the carriageway with the intention of ending his life," the deputy-coroner said.

"It is very possible he was intoxicated at the time."

Mr Powell died a month after the accident in the Royal Gwent Hospital suffering from bronchial pneumonia, a brain haemorrhage, a fractured skull and multiple other injuries.

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