Two young men died in a single-vehicle collision on the A40 in Pembrokeshire after the driver consumed alcohol above the legal limit, an inquest has established. Aled Coleman, 23, from Fishguard, and his passenger Aled Bowen, 18, from Trecwn, were killed when their silver Volkswagen Polo crashed in the early hours of 14 September 2025. According to BBC News, the inquest hearing at Pembrokeshire County Hall on Thursday revealed that alcohol consumption and excessive speed both contributed to the collision.
The pair had spent the evening at a nightclub in Haverfordwest before setting out for home along the A40 between Haverfordwest and Fishguard. The crash occurred at 03:13 BST when the Polo struck a roadside sign and overturned. Neither occupant was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the impact. According to BBC News, Bowen worked as a chef while Coleman was unemployed at the time of their deaths.
Kevin Hague, Forensic Collision Investigator with Dyfed Powys Police, confirmed in his report that the driver's blood alcohol level exceeded the legal threshold. He stated that while the exact circumstances of the collision remained unclear, inappropriate speed represented a significant causation factor. However, he was unable to determine the precise velocity at which the vehicle was travelling on the 60mph road.
Senior Coroner Gareth Lewis recorded that Aled Coleman's death resulted from a traumatic head injury sustained in the road traffic collision, while Aled Bowen died from multiple traumatic injuries.
What did emergency responders find at the scene?
The first officers and paramedics to arrive discovered extensive damage and evidence of alcohol consumption. PC Tirion Eynon, the first police officer on scene, observed substantial vehicle damage and detected a strong smell of alcohol from both the vehicle and its occupants. She noted the presence of considerable debris scattered across the area, including personal items, clothing, and multiple bottles of alcohol, among them an empty bottle of Jack Daniels.
Paramedic Kerry Garbutt, one of the first medical professionals to reach the crash site, recalled finding the two men appearing entwined with one another. She observed a bottle of Jack Daniels on the ground and vapes scattered throughout the wreckage, alongside the severely damaged roadside signpost.
Eyewitness Craig Young, who came upon the scene, described the aftermath in stark terms.
From what I could see ahead, and the damage sustained, I immediately thought anyone inside [the car] was potentially seriously injured or there's a fatality.He noted that visibility was good on the night of the accident but that the silence at the scene was disturbing.
I could make out two shapes inside, but there was no noise, no groans - it was completely silent. It was quite eerie.
How have the families responded?
Both families released statements expressing their grief and the preventable nature of the tragedy. Aled Bowen's family said:
His kindness and spirit will live with us forever, while Aled Coleman's family described their son as
kind and sensitiveand added:
He had so much going for him and so much to live for.
Speaking at the inquest, Aled Bowen's older sister, Carys Bowen, emphasised that her brother's death
could have been avoided. Certain choices led to his death. Their mother, a healthcare worker, was on the nightshift on 14 September 2025 when she saw a social media post about a serious road traffic accident. She recalled the moment she realised her son was not answering his phone:
My whole world came crashing down.She continued:
He was hard-working, he had plans, he had dreams. His death has driven a hole through our family that cannot be repaired.
Aled Bowen's mother also reflected on the ordinariness of that evening.
This event was so out of characterfor her son, she said.
He told me he was going for a pint that evening - there was nothing to suggest that would be the last time I'd see him.
Peter Coleman, Aled Coleman's father, described his son's death as
painfully overwhelming. He noted that Aled
had a sense of right from wrongand recalled the family's safety conversations.
We would always tell him never to drink-drive, and if he ever had too much to drink we would pick him up.
What is the broader context of drink-driving fatalities?
This case reflects a persistent pattern of fatal collisions involving impaired driving in the United Kingdom. In a comparable incident, BBC News reported that an inquest opened in October 2025 into the deaths of Coleman and Bowen, with proceedings adjourned for six months while police investigations continued. Similar tragedies have resulted in criminal convictions and lengthy prison sentences; for instance, Kyle Patrick was jailed for eight years after causing a fatal crash at 119mph while under the influence of alcohol, killing passenger Erin Slane.
What happens next?
The final inquests for both Aled Coleman and Aled Bowen are scheduled for 10:00 and 12:00 respectively on 5 November 2026 at County Hall in Haverfordwest, according to Pembrokeshire County Council.
Key Facts
- The crash occurred on the A40 between Haverfordwest and Fishguard at 03:13 BST on 14 September 2025
- The driver's blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit, and inappropriate speed was identified as a contributing factor
- Neither occupant was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision
- The vehicle struck a roadside sign and overturned in a single-vehicle crash
- Final inquest hearings are scheduled for 5 November 2026
