Somerset postman's fatal crash is still shrouded in mystery

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Exactly what events caused the death of a postman killed when his delivery van crashed into a metal gate on his rural round will likely forever remain a tragic mystery.

An inquest at Wells revealed little into why Graham Wilkins, 48, crashed into a steel cantilever gate on a narrow country lane near Siles Farm at Henstridge in South Somerset.

An accidental death verdict was delivered by the coroner.

Mr Wilkins died from chest injuries after a metal bar from the gate punctured his windscreen and then his chest, causing a fatal wound.

The popular married father was making a routine stop on a post round he had done regularly for six years.

Statements from Marcus Bray, a Sherborne Youth Centre worker who was first on the scene, and PC Andrew Hill, who reported on the June 24 collision, were read in court.

Mr Bray, who did not witness the collision, was returning from a lock-up he rents at Siles Farm when he saw the red Ford Transit Connect van parked on the narrow lane.

A metal post box was attached to the gate and Mr Wilkins was known to post letters through his driver’s window.

Mr Bray only noticed anything was wrong once he had manoeuvred his car past the van, clipping the wing mirror, and saw a bar from the gate was poking through the windscreen. The ambulance arrived shortly afterward but Mr Wilkins was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post mortem examination revealed negative blood toxicology tests and there was nothing to indicate a medical condition had contributed.

Owner of Siles Farm, David Andrews, a self employed engineering consultant, was in court to give evidence.

Mr Andrews said: “I would see Graham most days and he was used to turning his van around in our drive.

“I don’t know how it went so badly wrong. The gate has never swung into the road in my 18 years of living at the farm.”

The court heard how Mr Wilkins had stopped off at his father-in-law’s house earlier that day to discuss making a scarecrow for his son Jack.

He had said he was having a bad morning, was flustered, stressed and not feeling well.

PC Hill’s report ruled out excess speed or the use of a mobile phone.

[daveyeff]

this was the accident i was on about, the dom told us at a huddle, but he told us at the beginning of august, he said it had happened the previous day. obviously got his wires crossed about the date. anyways he had said it was caused by the driver leaning out of the van window to empty the box, and his foot slipped onto the accelerator, impaling him on the spike.???? how would he know if the police dont? anyway r.i.p. poor bloke. very sad.