THE SAFETY of Pembrokeshire’s busiest road has been called into question following an inquest into the death of a Maenclochog man.

Pembrokeshire’s coroner, Mark Layton, promised to recommend changes be made to the A40 at Redstone Cross, by writing to Welsh Government’s cabinet secretary for economy and transport, Ken Skates AM.

At the inquest of Herbert John Bernard Francis last Thursday, July 26 the coroner for Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire said he would send a Section 28 report to Welsh Government.

Mr Francis of Maenclochog died following a crash between his car and a haulage lorry on the A40 junction with the B4313, Redstone Cross on March 6 of this year.

A Section 28 report is an advisory document which coroners can send to government to advocate measures be taken to prevent repeat incidents.

Mr Layton said he hoped it would be “considered properly and acted upon to avoid future deaths and injuries” on the A40.

Mr Skates AM wrote to his fellow assembly members on June 18 this year to say Welsh Government planned to invest more than £50million to expand the A40 into a 2+1 lane layout between Llandewi Velvrey and Penblewin.

In this letter he added: “Preliminary investigations have also begun to develop further overtaking opportunities along the length of the A40, including Redstone Cross.”

Work is expected to start at the site between 2020 and 2023.

During Mr Francis’s inquest, Jeremy Davies, coroner’s officer for Dyfed-Powys Police in Pembrokeshire, described the circumstances leading up to the accident.

Mr Francis was known for his careful and calm nature while driving throughout his 45 years behind the wheel, according to his brother David.

In the weeks before his death he had been prescribed a course of antibiotics as he had been diagnosed with a urine infection.

On the day of his death, he had telephoned his sister-in-law from his doctor’s surgery car park in Narberth to tell her he had felt a little better.

He was later seen a bookmakers in Narberth, where he told the cashier he was not feeling himself.

The inquest also heard from PC Gary Rees, a collision investigation officer, who said there was nothing that the driver of the HGV could have done to slow down in time to prevent the accident.

PC Rees said CCTV from the HGV had showed Mr Francis’ car was travelling at a constant speed along the B4313, and made no attempt to slow down at the Redstone Cross junction.

Another motorist reported Mr Francis’ white Skoda Citigo had passed them moments before the crash and clipped the wing mirror of their parked car.

Mr Layton asked the collision investigation officer whether measures such as a recommended speed limit of 50mph and new road markings could help prevent other accidents along the stretch of road where Mr Francis died.

PC Rees agreed an improved road layout could help prevent future accidents.

The coroner concluded Mr Francis died as a result of a road traffic collision, and had likely suffered a medical emergency at the wheel, leading to his inability to slow down at the Redstone Cross junction.

“I believe the most likely cause of the collision was a medical emergency, which meant he was not in control of his vehicle,” he said.

“Sadly the injuries he sustained in that collision were fatal.”