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| Death crash motorist fell asleep | Death crash motorist fell asleep |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A teacher in a road crash said he had fallen asleep at the wheel hours before his death, an inquest heard. | A teacher in a road crash said he had fallen asleep at the wheel hours before his death, an inquest heard. |
| Father-of-two Andrew Radford, 33, from Welshpool, Powys, was travelling on the town's bypass when witnesses saw his car drift into the opposite lane. | Father-of-two Andrew Radford, 33, from Welshpool, Powys, was travelling on the town's bypass when witnesses saw his car drift into the opposite lane. |
| The deputy head of a Shropshire primary school died in hospital but told a paramedic at the scene of the three-vehicle crash he had fallen asleep. | The deputy head of a Shropshire primary school died in hospital but told a paramedic at the scene of the three-vehicle crash he had fallen asleep. |
| Powys Coroner Peter Maddox recorded a verdict of accidental death. | Powys Coroner Peter Maddox recorded a verdict of accidental death. |
| The hearing in Welshpool was told Mr Radford was conscious after the crash on 4 December 2008 and was able to speak to paramedic Alan Williams. | The hearing in Welshpool was told Mr Radford was conscious after the crash on 4 December 2008 and was able to speak to paramedic Alan Williams. |
| Mr Williams told the inquest that he found Mr Radford lying on the grass verge, and started to treat him. | |
| He said: "I asked him what had happened and he [Mr Radford] told me 'I fell asleep'." | He said: "I asked him what had happened and he [Mr Radford] told me 'I fell asleep'." |
| Mr Williams said Mr Radford told him that he had planned to stop earlier in his journey but felt that he could carry on. | Mr Williams said Mr Radford told him that he had planned to stop earlier in his journey but felt that he could carry on. |
| The paramedic said Mr Radford asked him not to tell anyone about their conversation. | The paramedic said Mr Radford asked him not to tell anyone about their conversation. |
| Internal injuries | Internal injuries |
| Mr Radford, deputy head at St John the Baptist Primary School in Ruyton-XI-Towns in Shropshire, was taken to the Royal Shrewbury Hospital but his condition deteriorated en route, the inquest heard. | Mr Radford, deputy head at St John the Baptist Primary School in Ruyton-XI-Towns in Shropshire, was taken to the Royal Shrewbury Hospital but his condition deteriorated en route, the inquest heard. |
| He died the following day as result of internal injuries, despite having emergency surgery. | He died the following day as result of internal injuries, despite having emergency surgery. |
| The inquest also heard from van delivery driver Michael Upton via a statement read at out at the hearing. | The inquest also heard from van delivery driver Michael Upton via a statement read at out at the hearing. |
| He said he was three or four vehicles behind Mr Radford's silver Skoda Octavia when he saw it drift across the white line. | He said he was three or four vehicles behind Mr Radford's silver Skoda Octavia when he saw it drift across the white line. |
| He said the then saw vehicles swerving to avoid a collision but then saw it hit a Volvo car. | He said the then saw vehicles swerving to avoid a collision but then saw it hit a Volvo car. |
| Coroner Mr Maddox said the "tragedy" served as reminder to all drivers that it was safer to stop when they fell tired. | Coroner Mr Maddox said the "tragedy" served as reminder to all drivers that it was safer to stop when they fell tired. |
| He said: "The accident seems consistent with a lapse of concentration or falling asleep. | He said: "The accident seems consistent with a lapse of concentration or falling asleep. |
| "There's not suggestion that he, Mr Radford, was driving dangerously, speeding or trying to overtake." | "There's not suggestion that he, Mr Radford, was driving dangerously, speeding or trying to overtake." |
| Mr Maddox added that it was not a criticism of Mr Radford. | Mr Maddox added that it was not a criticism of Mr Radford. |