A man who died in a single-vehicle crash on the A55 lost control of his vehicle after failing to negotiate a bend, an inquest has concluded.
David James Shone, of Coppa View, Buckley, died after the Ford Ranger he was driving left the eastbound carriageway near Junction 32 in the early hours of October 11, 2025.
Resuming the inquest at Ruthin County Hall on Wednesday, John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales (East and Central) concluded Mr Shone, 42, died from a head injury sustained in a road traffic collision.
The court heard the collision happened at around 12.47am on the A55 eastbound, just beyond the Halkyn slip road.
A report from North Wales Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit found Mr Shone’s vehicle was travelling in lane one before reaching a sweeping right-hand bend.
CCTV footage showed the vehicle failed to negotiate the bend, struck the nearside kerb and fishtailed three times before veering sharply left, leaving the carriageway and disappearing down an embankment.
Coroner Mr Gittins said the footage showed there were no other vehicles, animals or obstructions that could have caused the collision.
Mr Shone, a plumber and gas engineer, qualified at the age of 21 before establishing his own business in 2014.
The inquest heard he had experienced struggles with alcohol and his mental health and had previously sought support from his GP.
His family said he later took up bodybuilding, which gave him confidence and greatly improved his mental wellbeing. In recent years, however, his anxiety had resurfaced and he had begun self-medicating.
Investigators found Mr Shone’s black Ford Ranger was roadworthy, with valid insurance and an MOT. Examinations also ruled out any mechanical defects that could have contributed to the collision.
The road surface was dry and free from obstructions, visibility was good, weather conditions were clear and the carriageway was well lit by street lighting.
Taxi driver Carla Gambino witnessed the collision while travelling behind Mr Shone and stopped to help alongside the driver of a passing HGV.
The pair went down the embankment and found the vehicle had suffered catastrophic damage. Mr Shone, who was trapped inside, was unresponsive.
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Forensic collision investigator Ian Thompson concluded that the collision began after the vehicle struck the nearside verge, causing it to fishtail before leaving the carriageway. Evidence suggested Mr Shone had attempted to regain control before the vehicle came to rest down the embankment.
A post-mortem examination carried out by Dr Adrian Hazell recorded the cause of death as a head injury.
The court also heard toxicology testing identified a number of benzodiazepines (a class of medications commonly prescribed to treat anxiety) in Mr Shone’s system. Although diazepam was below the legal driving limit, evidence presented to the court suggested the combined sedative effects of the drugs may have impaired his driving.
Recording a conclusion of road traffic collision, Mr Gittins said that, on the balance of probabilities, Mr Shone failed to negotiate the bend before losing control of the vehicle. He concluded Mr Shone died from a head injury sustained in the collision.
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