Ebbw Vale man died in hospital after A465 crash

Shaun Whitney, of Church Street, was airlifted to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff after the crash, at the Old Hereford Road junction, on Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

An inquest held this week heard Mr Whitney suffered life-threatening injuries, and later went into septic shock and suffered a cardiac arrest. He died on Monday, November 12, a week and a half after the crash.

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"Despite receiving intensive care, the problems overwhelmed him and resulted in his death on November 12, 2018," said Senior Coroner for Gwent Caroline Saunders.

His cause of death was recorded as septic shock as a result of ventilator associated pneumonia, caused by rib fractures and lung injuries as a result of a crash.

The inquest heard Mr Whitney had been driving his van southbound on the A465 towards Abergavenny on October 31 when the crash, which involved a Vauxhall Insignia, occurred.

Witness Lewis Maitland described how he saw the white van "disappear out of sight over the grass verge" after colliding with the front of the Insignia.

PC Anthony Parker, of Gwent Police’s Collision Investigation Team, said Mr Whitney’s manoeuvring at the time of the crash was "slightly misjudged".

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Whitney’s daughter, Kimberley, paid tribute to her father.

“He was a popular and likeable man,” she said. “He was a kind, caring and loving person who made his family very proud.”

Ms Saunders concluded Mr Whitney’s death was the result of a road traffic collision.