SCHOOL RUN CRASH
Schoolboy, 11, died after sister, 8, screamed about spider dropping onto mum's hand causing her to crash
By Phoebe Cooke
Updated: 19 Jun 2019, 18:52
AN 11-year-old schoolboy has died after his sister screamed about a spider dropping onto their mum's hand, causing her to crash.
Tristan Silver was being driven to school when the family's car smashed into a 4x4 towing a trailer full of sheep, an inquest heard today.
Tristan Silver died in a car crash on his way to schoolCredit: Wales News Service
Cloud Younger, 29, told how her daughter Branwen - who was sitting in the front passenger seat - noticed a spider landing on her left hand as she drove on the country road.
The eight-year-old became "hysterical and started screaming", she said in a statement.
Mrs Younger said she turned her attention to Branwen to calm her down while still driving, but their blue Subaru then crashed.
'DEVASTATED'
Tristan, who was in the back seat, suffered serious head injuries and was airlifted to hospital in Cardiff.
When asked by police why she had not stopped, Mrs Younger replied: "No comment."
The inquest in Aberystwyth, Wales, heard their car drifted on to the wrong side of the A485 and hit the oncoming vehicle.
The Mitsubishi was being driven by farmer David Glyndwr Jones who was on his way to Builth Wells livestock market in Mid Wales at the time of the crash near Tregaron, Ceredigion, in May last year.
All this happened in about six seconds - I just had enough time to warn my wife and brace myself. I feel devastated by what happened.
David Glyndwr Jones, driver of the 4x4
He added: "At first it was straddling the white line, about a quarter of the vehicle on the wrong side. Then it came all the way over to my side and I could see it wasn't going to stop.
"All this happened in about six seconds - I just had enough time to warn my wife and brace myself. I feel devastated by what happened. I don't understand why she didn't see us and drive back to her side."
The inquest heard the Subaru had recently passed its MOT and all three people in the car were wearing seat belts.
Mrs Younger was driving her two children more than five miles from their home in Tregaron to school in nearby Llangibby.
Mrs Younger did not give evidence at the inquest, but when asked by the coroner if she had anything to add, she said: "If I could remember more, I would have said more."
Tristan Silver was in a car heading south towards Lampeter when his family's car crashed into a 4x4Credit: Google
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The inquest heard when Mrs Younger was first interviewed by police in June 2018, she answered "no comment" to every question.
There was no evidence as to how fast the car was travelling on the 60mph road, but Mr Jones said his vehicle was almost at a standstill at the point of impact.
A conclusion of misadventure was recorded by coroner Peter Brunton.