Fatal Moxley canal crash: Friends battled to save driver Dean Strong
A father-of-two died after he lost control of his car and plunged more than 30ft into a canal, with his brain starved of oxygen for almost 15 minutes as his friends desperately tried to rescue him.
Dean Strong, from Bradley, Bilston, was driving above the 30mph speed limit on the Black Country New Road in Moxley when he swerved to avoid two stationary cars, lost control on a tight left bend and smashed into the crash barrier. His car then flipped over before plunging 32ft into Walsall Canal and landing on its roof.
The 31-year-old was being followed in another car by two of his friends, who rushed into the water but could not free him for around 15 minutes before starting CPR. The inquest heard his friends were panicking because they struggled to find the driver's side of the car.
The tragedy happened on October 8 near the Aldi supermarket.
The inquest heard that Mr Strong, who was driving a black Volkswagen Golf, swerved to avoid the stationary cars at a red light, with CCTV footage showing he was driving over the 30mph limit.
Sergeant Paul Hughes, the investigating officer for West Midlands Police, said: "He failed to negotiate the tight sweeping left and the car breached the crash barrier and tumbled down into the canal."
Manel Mangalika, New Cross Hospital pathologist, ruled that Mr Strong had not drowned but died because his brain had been starved of oxygen for too long.
He was pronounced dead at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
At Smethwick Council House yesterday, Black Country coroner Zafar Saddique recorded a verdict of death due to a road traffic collision due to driver error.
He said: "It is an absolute tragedy. This man had his whole life in front of him."
Mr Strong's partner, Stephanie added: "He was amazing, he would do anything for anybody, he was a very selfless person. He was always there and he loved his kids."
Darlaston councillors Paul and Chris Bott are campaigning to get extra safety measures on the busy stretch of road, which is used by thousands of drivers every day.
But Sgt Hughes said: "The junction has been checked and it complies with the requirements."
