Delivery van involved in fatal Coseley crash had faulty brakes
A delivery driver who was killed in a crash with a police car at a crossroads was driving a van with faulty brakes, an inquest has heard.
Ajay Sagar became trapped under his Mercedes Sprinter after he was thrown from the van on impact with the marked Ford S Max in Coseley.
The 29-year-old, of Ryddon Square, Hill Top, West Bromwich, died at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics and members of the public.
An investigation found defects on the van's brakes, which experts said were a major contributory factor to the crash.
It is also believed Mr Sagar was not wearing a seat belt.
The officer who was driving the police car, Pc Dean Meese, was a witness at Mr Sagar's inquest at Smethwick Council House yesterday.
He said he was returning home at around 11am on October 21 along Central Drive when he approached the crossroads where Bridge Street meets Martin Street.
He said became aware of the white Mercedes Sprinter van driven by Mr Agar, coming from Bridge Street.
Pc Meese said he did not stop immediately as he had right of way, but seeing the van was not slowing, braked hard, but was unable to avoid the collision.
He told the inquest he believed the van was travelling at around 40mph along the road which had a 30mph limit. However, investigators said they did not believe Mr Sagar was speeding as a GPS tracker showed he was travelling at 22mph moments before the crash and that there was no evidence he was speeding at any point.
Pc Meese told the inquest: "I knew I didn't have time to take avoiding action, I knew impact was inevitable. I slammed down on the brake.
"At that point I felt scared. I resigned myself to the fact I was probably going to die."
He described seeing the van 'cartwheeling' down the street after hitting his car.
Pc Meese was not badly hurt in the crash.
The investigation found Pc Meese had been travelling within the speed limit.
"I was driving a marked police vehicle and wanted to give a good account of the police service and take a certain amount of pride in my driving," he said.
Mr Sagar had worked as a delivery driver for around three months for West Bromwich-based company Munchies, delivering sandwiches.
His wife of five years Sheweta Sagar described him as a 'really good man' who was 'happy and buzzing all the time' and loved his job.
Senior Black Country coroner Zafar Saddique recorded a verdict of death by road traffic collision.
"The evidence suggests he was not wearing his seat belt. The evidence also suggests his brakes were defective and these were potential contributory factors," he said.
