Three died in crash after driver took cocaine

The collision between a car and lorry on the A48 at Bonvilston in the Vale of Glamorgan cost the lives of three men

17:16, 18 Mar 2026

Lawrence Howells, left, and Barrie John, right, were passengers of a car driven by Scott Jeffery who was under the influence of cocaine(Image: South Wales Police)

A driver was under the influence of cocaine at the time of a crash which caused the deaths of him and his two passengers. Scott Jeffery, 34, suffered fatal injuries after driving a Ford Puma head-on into a lorry while his passengers Lawrence Howells, 51, and Barrie John, 48, also lost their lives.

The crash happened shortly before 5pm on April 1 last year on the A48 near Bonvilston in the Vale of Glamorgan. An inquest has now found Mr Jeffery's use of the Class A drug was a contributing factor in the crash.

A Pontypridd[1] coroners' court inquest into Mr Jeffery's death heard his car "collided head-on with a HGV coming in the opposite direction" on the A48.

Coroner Rachel Knight concluded Mr Jeffery's death was caused by a road traffic collision contributed to by cocaine use.

Mr Jeffery was born in Pontypridd and at the time of his death lived in Brackla, Bridgend[2], and was unemployed, the inquest heard.

Moving tributes to Mr Howells, from Porthcawl[3], and Mr John, from Ferndale, were paid last year by their families.

In a statement released through South Wales Police[4] the family of Mr John said: "I have lost my son, the biggest pain out of the four of my children.

It's strange how the ones who cause the most trouble end up leaving the biggest mark on your heart.

"He was always the one to stir things up, constantly pushing my patience with his mischievous antics. Yet he also had a way of making me laugh when I needed it most. His grin, the way he'd sneak around causing chaos and then act like nothing happened, made life with him unpredictable but never dull.

"Despite his troublesome ways he brought so much life and laughter into everything.

His energy was contagious. He was always cracking jokes, pulling pranks. Now he's gone and the silence is deafening.

"Losing him has left a hole in my heart that nothing can fill.

I keep expecting to hear his voice, to see his face, but all that remains are memories. The house feels emptier without him even though I know his spirit lingers in every corner, reminding me of the times he made us laugh or shake our heads in disbelief.

"Time moves on but the pain is still there. Grief doesn't fully heal; it just becomes something you learn to carry.

I find myself wishing I could hear him complain just one more time. Those little moments, his voice, his sense of humour, they're what I miss the most.

"Though the sorrow is overwhelming there's still a flicker of hope that his spirit lives on in the love and memories we hold."

Mr Howells' family said: "As a family we are devastated and ask for time to grieve and process the loss of Lawrence. Sleep tight Law boy.

Our thoughts also go out to other families affected by this tragic accident."

Why we cover inquests - and why it's so important that we do

As painful as these proceedings are for those who have lost a loved one the lessons that can be learned from inquests can go a long way to saving others' lives.

The press has a legal right to attend inquests and has a responsibility to report on them as part of their duty to uphold the principle of open justice.

It's a journalist's duty to make sure the public understands the reasons why someone has died and to make sure their deaths are not kept secret. An inquest report can also clear up any rumours or suspicion surrounding a person's death.

But, most importantly of all, an inquest report can draw attention to circumstances which may stop further deaths from happening.

Should journalists shy away from attending inquests then an entire arm of the judicial system is not held to account.

Inquests can often prompt a wider discussion on serious issues, the most recent of these being mental health and suicide.

Editors actively ask and encourage reporters to speak to the family and friends of a person who is the subject of an inquest. Their contributions help us create a clearer picture of the person who died and also provides the opportunity to pay tribute to their loved one.

Often families do not wish to speak to the press and of course that decision has to be respected.

However, as has been seen by many powerful media campaigns, the input of a person's family and friends can make all the difference in helping to save others.

Without the attendance of the press at inquests questions will remain unanswered and lives will be lost.

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References

1. ^ Pontypridd (www.walesonline.co.uk)
2. ^ Bridgend (www.walesonline.co.uk)
3. ^ Porthcawl (www.walesonline.co.uk)
4. ^ South Wales Police (www.walesonline.co.uk)
5. ^ our WhatsApp community here (chat.whatsapp.com)
6. ^ Privacy Notice (www.reachplc.com)