The injuries sustained by a father and son killed in a hit-and-run collision in 2023 were “unsurvivable”, an inquest has found.
The Viscount, Advocate Mark Harris, who was sitting as Coroner, determined that Dean Lowe (48) died from head and neck injuries following a high-speed collision on Rue de Fauvic in Grouville on 5 August 2023.
Mr Lowe’s 11-year-old son Charlie suffered fatal head injuries in the same crash.
An inquest into their deaths was closed today after reviewing evidence from last year’s criminal case against Dylan John Pounds, who was found guilty of causing deaths by dangerous driving following a week-long Royal Court trial.
The 29-year-old was sentenced to 15 years in prison in December.
Summarising the court’s findings, Advocate Harris said Pounds had been drinking heavily in the afternoon leading up to the incident, and was over the legal blood alcohol limit at the time of the crash.
Evidence showed the van driver made no attempt to slow down, swerve, or stop before hitting the pedestrians.
Pounds was driving at around 44mph in a 30mph zone, and ignored road signs warning drivers to reduce their speed.
He did not stop after the collision – despite his van being badly damaged.
The inquest heard that Mr Lowe and his son lost consciousness “immediately” after the crash due to the severity of their injuries.
Mr Lowe was pronounced dead at 23:15 in the Emergency Department, and Charlie at 00:01.
In closing the proceedings, the coroner extended his condolences to the Lowe family and acknowledged the tragic circumstances of the two deaths.