Latest news with #Owen-Jones
North Wales Live
05-07-2025
- North Wales Live
Woman died after being struck by car outside North Wales hospital on New Years Day
A combination of several factors contributed to the death of a woman who was knocked down outside a North Wales hospital, an inquest heard. Hairdresser Mary Owen-Jones, 51, had been visiting her daughter in the maternity unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital, when the accident occurred on New Year's Day, 2023. She was taken to the hospital's emergency department and found to have broken her leg, but when her condition deteriorated she was airlifted to the trauma unit at the Royal Stoke University Hospital. She died 36 hours later from a bleed on the brain, exacerbated by the anti-coagulant Warfarin which she had been prescribed following a previous heart operation. The inquest in Ruthin heard that Mrs Owen-Jones, of Dinerth Road, Rhos-on-Sea, was hit by a grey Audi by Chloe Thelwell, a staff nurse at the hospital, who was going home after finishing her shift. Ms Thelwell told police that after leaving the main car-park, she turned towards the main road and she admitted cutting the corner while turning right at the junction. She said she was doing only 10-15mph, the advisory limit in the hospital grounds being 10mph. Witnesses described how the distraught nurse repeatedly told people who went to Mrs Owen-Jones' aid: "I just didn't see her," But one of the witnesses, Dewi Wyn Williams, said the Audi's windscreen was completely misted up and he thought to himself: " No wonder you didn't see her, you can't see anything out of that (screen)." Asked in a police interview whether the windscreen had been misted up, Ms Thelwell replied: "I don't think so." If it had been, she said, she would not have been able to negotiate the awkward exit from the car-park. Forensic collision investigator Ian Thompson said that as he did not arrive at the scene until some time later, by which time the car had been moved, he could not comment on what the windscreen had been like. He said that Mrs Owen-Jones, who was wearing dark clothes, was crossing the road only a few metres from an illuminated pedestrian crossing and should have seen the approaching vehicle with its headlights and indicator on. Those factors, plus the fact that Ms Thelwell had cut the corner, had all played a part in the collision. Why journalists cover inquests and why it's crucial that we do Reporting on an inquest can be one of the hardest types of stories a journalist can write. More often than not, they are emotionally charged proceedings attended by grief-stricken people who are desperate for answers. Sometimes, inquests can seem quite clinical due to a coroner's need to remain impartial and level-headed so that they can draw a conclusion from desperately sad events. As painful as these proceedings are for those who have lost a loved one, the lessons that can be learned from inquests can go a long way to saving others' lives. Families are often surprised - and sometimes angry - when they see a reporter in attendance. Understandably they worry the nature of their loved one's death will be sensationalised and that a news story will forever tarnish their memory. Responsible and ethically minded journalists will do what they can to report inquests sensitively, while not shying away from the often upsetting facts. It is vital that the public don't forget that inquests are a type of judicial inquiry; they are after all held in a coroner's court. The press has a legal right to attend inquests and has a responsibility to report on them as part of their duty to uphold the principle of 'open justice'. But in doing so journalists must follow the guidance provided by the Independent Press Standards Organisation and set out in Editors' Code of Conduct. It's a journalist's duty to make sure the public understands the reasons why someone has died and to make sure their deaths are not kept secret. An inquest report can also clear up any rumours or suspicion surrounding a person's death. But most importantly of all, an inquest report can draw attention to circumstances which may stop further deaths from happening. Inquests are not criminal courts - there is no prosecution or defence - they are fact-finding tribunals which seek to answer four key questions: Who is the person who died? Where did they die? When did they die? How did they die? They do not apportion blame. Once these questions are answered a coroner will be able to record a conclusion. The wider lessons that can be learned from an inquest can have far-reaching consequences - but if journalists do not attend them how can the public be made aware? The harsh reality is they can't. Coroners often do not publish the results of an inquest. Should journalists shy away from attending inquests then an entire arm of the judicial system - and numerous others who need to answer vital questions - is not held to account. Inquests can often prompt a wider discussion on serious issues, the most recent of these being mental health and suicide. Editors actively ask and encourage reporters to speak to the family and friends of a person who is the subject of an inquest. Their contributions help us create a clearer picture of the person who died and also provides the opportunity to pay tribute to their loved one. Often families do not wish to speak to the press and of course that decision has to be respected. However, as has been seen by many brilliant campaigns run by newspapers and websites up and down the country, the input of a person's family and friends can make all the difference in helping to save others. Without the attendance of the press at inquests questions will remain unanswered, debates unargued and lives lost. John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, said the Crown Prosecution Service had considered bringing a charge of causing death by dangerous driving, but finally decided after viewing all the evidence that there was no realistic prospect of a jury finding Ms Thelwell guilty. Recording a conclusion of death in a road traffic collision, he said: "It was a combination of all the elements."
Rhyl Journal
04-07-2025
- Rhyl Journal
New grandmother dies after traffic collision, inquest hears
Mary Owen-Jones of Dinerth Road, Rhos-on-Sea, had just become a grandmother when the incident took place near the main entrance of Ysbyty Glan Clwyd on January 1, 2023. An inquest was held into the 51-year-old's death at County Hall in Ruthin on Friday, July 4. At approximately 8.40pm, a car collided with her and she was taken to the emergency department in wheelchair. Initially conscious but confused, Mrs Owen-Jones reported severe pain in her left ankle and leg at the time, but no obvious pain elsewhere. Medics proceeded to take her to resus where she suffered a seizure. A CT scan revealed a fractured skull and internal brain injury. A witness statement from the neurologist on shift described it as an 'unsurvivable injury.' Mrs Owen-Jones was transferred to Royal Stoke University Hospital where she sadly died two days later (January 3). The inquest heard the driver of the vehicle had finished a long shift at the hospital and had been doing 15mph in an advisory 10mph zone. A statement from NWP Sergeant Liam Morris states the driver recalls checking the junction twice, but did not see the pedestrian until she was immediately in front of the car. Mr Stephen Hall had just finished a 12-hour-shift when he witnessed the accident. He recalls the vehicle windscreen being misted due to cold temperatures, however, a forensic report could not support this. Mr Ian Thomas, North Wales Police Forensic Officer, also states that the pedestrian wearing dark clothing against a dark background would also contribute to poor visibility. A CCTV and dashcam analysis of the incident found no substantial evidence that could aid the investigation, again due to poor visibility of the area. A motor garage further confirmed there had been no defaults with the vehicle at the time of the collision. Senior coroner John Gittins said the events of New Year's Day 2023 were a real tragedy for a family who had just welcomed a new baby into the world. Mr Gittins concludes the death as being caused by a road traffic collision, with medics confirming Mrs Owen-Jones had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. To the family, he said: "My heartfelt condolences to you all. "This has emphasised the fragility of life."
Leader Live
04-07-2025
- Leader Live
New grandmother dies after traffic collision, inquest hears
Mary Owen-Jones of Dinerth Road, Rhos-on-Sea, had just become a grandmother when the incident took place near the main entrance of Ysbyty Glan Clwyd on January 1, 2023. An inquest was held into the 51-year-old's death at County Hall in Ruthin on Friday, July 4. At approximately 8.40pm, a car collided with her and she was taken to the emergency department in wheelchair. Initially conscious but confused, Mrs Owen-Jones reported severe pain in her left ankle and leg at the time, but no obvious pain elsewhere. Medics proceeded to take her to resus where she suffered a seizure. A CT scan revealed a fractured skull and internal brain. A witness statement from the neurologist on shift described it as an 'unsurvivable injury.' Mrs Owen-Jones was transferred to Royal Stoke University Hospital where she sadly died two days later (January 3). The inquest heard the driver of the vehicle had finished a long shift at the hospital and had been doing 15mph in an advisory 10mph zone. A statement from NWP Sergeant Liam Morris states the driver recalls checking the junction twice, but did not see the pedestrian until she was immediately in front of the car. Mr Stephen Hall had just finished a 12-hour-shift when he witnessed the accident. He recalls the vehicle windscreen being misted due to cold temperatures, however, a forensic report could not support this. Mr Ian Thomas, North Wales Police Forensic Officer, also states that the pedestrian wearing dark clothing against a dark background would also contribute to poor visibility. A CCTV and dashcam analysis of the incident found no substantial evidence that could aid the investigation, again due to poor visibility of the area. A motor garage further confirmed there had been no defaults with the vehicle at the time of the collision. Senior coroner John Gittins said the events of New Year's Day 2023 were a real tragedy for a family who had just welcomed a new baby into the world. Mr Gittins concludes the death as being caused by a road traffic collision, with medics confirming Mrs Owen-Jones had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. To the family, he said: "My heartfelt condolences to you all. "This has emphasised the fragility of life."
