Faulty tyre behind crash deaths

Both drivers were the only occupants of their cars

A coroner has urged motorists to regularly check their vehicles after hearing a "dangerously defective" tyre was the cause of a head-on crash.

John Read, 49, and Zohiab Hanif, 19, both died after the collision on Cwmbach Road in Swansea last July.

An inquest heard Mr Hanif lost control of his Toyota which crossed to the oncoming lane and into Mr Read's path.

The coroner recorded narrative verdicts after viewing the Toyota tyre which was totally bald in places.

Security guard Mr Read was travelling along the road from Waunarlydd towards Cockett in a Suzuki Grand Vitara while Mr Hanif, a student, was driving a Toyota MR2 in the opposite direction.

Witness Anthony James told the inquest he saw the crash, around 1655 BST on 14 July, in his rear view mirror.

He said the Toyota strayed into the oncoming lane as it negotiated a bend.

"There was nothing the Vitara driver could have done to avoid the collision," he added.

But for the defect of this tyre I'm sure we would not be sitting here today Philip Rogers, coroner

Both drivers were taken to Morriston Hospital but Mr Read died of multiple injuries and Mr Hanif of chest injuries.

South Wales Police accident investigator Phil Painting told the inquest that he inspected both vehicles and found a rear tyre on the Toyota to be defective.

It was produced as evidence and had little or no tread all the way around.

He said it was his opinion that the tyre had deflated before the collision causing Mr Hanif to oversteer as he negotiated the corner.

Mr Hanif's car had been impounded the previous month as he was caught driving without insurance but there were no records of the defect being noticed at that time.

Coroner Philip Rogers said it would be "too simplistic" to record verdicts of accidental death.

In Mr Hanif's case he said the deceased died in Morriston Hospital on 14 July having been involved in a road traffic accident when the Toyota car he was driving, which had a "seriously defective" rear tyre, crossed into the east bound carriageway hitting a Suzuki vehicle, the driver of which was also killed.

He said having viewed the "dangerously defective" tyre it was "incumbent on us all that the tyres on our motor vehicles should be regularly checked."

"But for the defect of this tyre I'm sure we would not be sitting here today," he added.