A 42-year-old driver who was involved in a crash in Devon died from pre-existing health problems, an inquest has heard.
Mark Casely was taken to hospital after a single-vehicle collision near his home in Bampton. He was driving his Vauxhall Corsa when it went over a roundabout and ended up in a ditch.
He was taken to the RD&E and died five days later. An inquest in Exeter heard that the injuries he sustained in the crash were not life-changing or a significant factor in his death.
Mr Casely had a history of serious and chronic health problems and died of multi-organ failure. The coroner recorded that he died of natural causes.
The inquest heard the crash happened on May 31, 2024 at about 6pm. Mr Casely was driving from Tiverton to Bampton. Weather conditions were good, there was light traffic and no defects on the car.
For unknown reasons he failed to negotiate a roundabout outside the Exeter Inn while travelling at a speed of between 40 and 50mph, said coroner Mike Bird. The car hit a tree and came to rest in a ditch. His female passenger was wearing a seatbelt and was not seriously hurt. Mr Casely was not wearing a seatbelt and suffered fractures to his nose, ribs and spine.
The inquest heard medical evidence from doctors who treated him in hospital. Tests revealed other active and severe conditions, including liver cirrhosis and chronic pancreatitis. Evidence from Mr Casely's GP showed his poor health was connected to previous alcohol and drug use. He was taking painkillers to manage his conditions and had declined surgery. He also had a long history of mental health difficulties and in February 2024 had been referred for mental health support.
A post-mortem examination concluded the cause of death was multi-organ failure due to liver cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis and bilateral pneumonia. The crash injuries were not severe and did not contribute more than minimally. The coroner said the crash injuries "were part of the picture" but not a direct cause of his death.
"The medical evidence is the injuries were superficial and did not contribute significantly to his death," said Mr Bird.
Mr Casely died in hospital on May 5, 2024 after a sudden deterioration.
Coroner Rules Devon Crash Driver Died of Natural Causes