THE cause of a car crash in which a 54-year-old man died will remain unexplained, a coroner has said.

Simon Michael Boyce died from "multiple injuries" after hitting a tree near the Bwlch-y-sarnau turning on the A483 on July 11, 2019.

Mr Boyce's inquest at Welshpool Magistrates' Court heard he was travelling home to Newtown after visiting family in Devon.

Assistant coroner Ian Boyes read a statement from William Palmer, who Mr Boyce considered as a father, said he was in "great spirits" and was about to start a new job.

Mr Palmer added: "Life was going so well. He had a lot to live for.

"We are absolutely devastated and heartbroken."

Mr Boyce was described as a "free spirit" who "fell in love with Wales". The inquest heard he was "health driven about what he ate" and was a regular runner who was due to run the Cardiff Half Marathon.

The inquest heard that on July 11, a driver and passenger saw lights in a hedge near the Bwlch-y-sarnau turning. They parked up and approached the vehicle. Mr Trevor Jones, the driver, shouted "hello" but there was no response and phoned for an ambulance. Four men arrived at the junction in a 4x4 vehicle, Mr Jones said. They reached for Mr Boyce and didn't find a pulse.

Paramedic Manon Ludlum said the ambulance service arrived at 12.24am. She said the vehicle was found "severely" crushed on the driver's side. Mr Boyce had suffered "traumatic" arm and head injuries. He was pronounced dead at 12.30am.

A police investigation found there was no mechanical defect. A post mortem found that Mr Boyce died from "multiple injuries".

Recording a conclusion of road traffic collision, the Coroner said that there was no clear evidence of how or why Mr Boyce left the road.

The Coroner offered his sincere condolences to Mr Boyce's family.