West Midland Safari Park worker's crash death was accident, coroner finds
A West Midland Safari Park worker died after he lost control of his car, sending him into the path of a Land Rover, an inquest heard.
Mitchel Bow, who worked in the engineering department at the Bewdley attraction, died at the scene of the smash on Ribbesford Road, Stourport.
The 21-year-old had been driving his blue VW Golf when it collided with a grey Land Rover Freelander driven by Melvyn Walker shortly before 6pm on January 15.
The inquest at Worcestershire Coroner's Court in Stourport heard that a passing motorist had gone to Mr Bow's aid and performed CPR but was unable to save him.
Mr Bow was travelling towards Bewdley on the road, known locally as 'the Switchback' and the Land Rover was travelling in the opposite direction towards Stourport when the accident took place, the court heard. The crash happened in a section where the road bends left then right.
The inquest heard evidence from motorist Alan Edwards who was driving behind Mr Bow.
In a statement, he said he was returning home from Bristol and noticed that the Golf was pulling away from him as he reached 50mph, adding: "I thought to myself, 'he's not hanging about'."
When he reached the crash site he switched on his hazard indicators and went to help the occupants of the Land Rover after being unable to see anyone in the VW Golf.
Mr Walker said he had been travelling with his wife and son on a road that was wet from earlier rain.
The painter and decorator recalled seeing the VW Golf approaching from the Bewdley direction and being 'slightly over his lane,' as he travelled at between 30 and 35mph.
However, as the Golf tried to move back in on the left hand bend, it veered sharply to the left and then to the right as the driver apparently tried to correct the situation, but crashed into the Land Rover, which hit the passenger's side of the Golf halfway down.
Mr Walker added: "He was just over the white line on my side of the road and I fully expected him to go down the side of me, but he lost control and at the last moment he went to the right, which was in front of my path."
He suffered a broken wrist and hand and a gash on his head during the accident, while his wife suffered bruised and broken ribs and a punctured lung.
Another motorist, Nigel Chater, tried to perform CPR on Mr Bow, who lived in Ernely Close, but was unable to revive him.
Geraint Williams, senior coroner for Worcestershire, recorded a verdict that he died as a result of an accident.
