THE family of a man who died in a road traffic collision on the A5 in Oswestry will have a chance to quiz witnesses at his inquest.

Ashley Jones, 34, was involved in a collision with red Citroen car at around 5.15am on Sunday, August 20, but sadly died at the scene despite paramedics’ best efforts to save him.

In an inquest at Shirehall on Tuesday, December 19, senior Shropshire coroner John Ellery took the decision to adjourn the hearing to a later date after Mr Jones’s family raised a number of questions.

OTHER NEWS:

This will lead to a number of witnesses, including Fereba Hafizi – the driver of the Citreon – being called to the inquest to give evidence to Mr Ellery and also take questions from the family who queried the statements that were given.

He said: “This inquest can only finish if you don’t have questions and you do so I will have to adjourn and will call the driver as a witness.”

Mr Jones’s family, including his wife Jessica, were supported by friends as they raised issues around statements given to police.

Mr Ellery also read out the conclusion of a traffic report put together by officer PC Fraser-Smith who said that the lack of lights and Mr Jones’s dark clothing contributed to the accident.

He said: “At around 5am on Sunday, August 20 a collision occurred on A5 in Oswestry between Mile End roundabout and Whittington roundabout between pedestrian and a Citroen DS3.

“It occurred between twilight and the weather was fine.

“There is no street lighting – the Citroen was travelling towards Chirk and the pedestrian was in the northbound lane and was collided on the near side.

“The driver stopped the vehicle on the Chirk bound lane and the lack of light and the dark clothes of the deceased made it harder for him to be seen.

“It is likely that an alcohol level impacted on his decision making.

“There were no car or road defects, and it could not be ascertained if he was walking in the road or stumbled in it.”

What happens at an inquest and what can the press report?

Reporting on inquests is one of the most difficult jobs faced by any journalist, but there are important reasons why local newspapers attend coroner’s court hearings and report on proceedings.

Here we will try and answer some of your questions about what will happen, what can be reported and why.

A toxicology report from Dr Simon Elliott said that Mr Jones had 150 microgrammes of alcohol in his blood and a post-mortem from Dr Laura Potter gave a cause of death as multiple injuries.

Mr Ellery added that he would call Ms Hafizi as well as Dr Elliott, and a driver who witnessed the lead-up to the incident; however, all witnesses are yet to be fully confirmed.

The coroner had told the court he had initially intended to give a conclusion of road traffic collision.