Woman killed in Colwyn Bay crash after husband 'blacked out' and crashed into tree

North Wales Live

10-07-2025

A pensioner was killed as she and her husband made their way home because he was feeling unwell. Trevor and Doreen Brough, from Blythe Bridge Road, Caverswall, Stoke-on-Trent, were only a short distance from their second home in Mochdre, Colwyn Bay, when he lost control of their Peugeot Partner car.
An inquest heard that after mounting the nearside kerb it crossed into the opposite carriageway of the A547, narrowly missing oncoming traffic, before crashing into a tree and becoming wedged against a wall.
Mrs Brough, 77, who was not wearing a seatbelt, suffered multiple injuries and was flown to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan, but died early the following day.
The collision, which occurred on January 3, 2024, was captured on the dashcams of several vehicles and on the CCTV of residential properties.
The inquest in Ruthin heard that when interviewed Trevor Brough said he could remember nothing about the collision but they had been to Colwyn Bay library and then the seafront.
He told his wife he was feeling unwell and light-headed, and just wanted to get home.
"As I went along it got worse and worse," he said. "I remember going round the roundabout but don't remember anything (after) then."
Mr Brough said he had never suffered a blackout previously but the inquest heard that while visiting his wife in hospital he became unresponsive twice, once for five seconds and the second time for 20-30 minutes.
Roger Smith, who had been driving from Mochdre towards Colwyn Bay, said the Peugeot swerved towards him, narrowly missing a parked car.
"I don't know how I missed it. He must have been doing 50mph," he said.
Elizabeth Dudley-Jones, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, said road conditions were good and no mechanical defects were found.
She had been informed by North Wales Police that there was insufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction and so no charges would be brought against Mr Brough.
One possibility, she said, was that Mrs Brough had grabbed the steering wheel to try to avoid other vehicles.
Recording a conclusion of death in a road traffic collision, Mrs Dudley-Jones described it as "an exceptionally sad case" and that Mr and Mrs Brough were clearly "a lovely and well-loved couple".