Man died after being struck by vehicles on A534 near Holt
Steven Barry Ellis, of Wrexham Road, Holt, sadly died on the A534 on February 2, 2025. At County Hall in Ruthin on Thursday (May 7), an inquest was held into the 56-year-old's death. It heard that Mr Ellis was walking home along the A534 near Holt after a day of drinking when the incident occurred shortly before 7.10pm.
The inquest was told Mr Ellis, who was accompanied by a friend named Michael James Burns, was struck by a Dacia car travelling north towards Holt - before also being hit by a HGV travelling in the opposite direction having been thrown into its path. Mr Burns was also struck by the Dacia, sustaining serious injuries. Dashcam footage showed Mr Ellis standing close to the line of the carriageway moments before the collision.
CCTV footage had earlier captured the two men walking from Wrexham towards Holt Road and in the direction of Holt Lodge. A witness, Steven Lewis, told the inquest that at around 6.50pm he had been driving along the same road when he noticed a person's silhouette near the edge of the carriageway. "There was no street lighting, and visibility was very poor," he said. "I had just enough time to move my car safely to pass."
The driver of the Dacia said moments before the collision two cars travelling the opposite direction both flashed their headlights. Anticipating a hazard in the road, he pressed his brakes. But "within seconds", two people "appeared out of nowhere".
The driver of the HGV told the inquest he had not seen anything before the impact. Data from the vehicle's tachograph indicated the HGV was travelling at around 40mph at the time of the incident - with the road subject to a national speed limit. Mr Burns, who survived the incident, said he had no memory of the events leading up to the collision.
He told the court he had been drinking alcohol throughout the day, starting at midday. "I had a lot to drink. I remember walking in the dark back towards the hotel, but the next thing I recall is waking up in hospital," he said.
A forensic collision investigator for North Wales Police compiled a report which stated that it would not have been possible for the Dacia driver to stop within the available distance if travelling at or above 50mph. The hearing was told that the combination of darkness, lack of street lighting, and the sudden presence of pedestrians in the road created a situation in which drivers had little opportunity to react. A blood alcohol reading for Mr Ellis was recorded at 181 milligrams -- more than twice the legal driving limit.
However, the coroner noted there was insufficient evidence to determine the extent to which intoxication had significantly impaired his behaviour, although it may have affected his decision-making. 
The inquest concluded that Mr Ellis died as a result of a road traffic collision. Mr Ellis's sister, Debra Ellis, described him as a man known for his kindness and generosity. She said he had spent much of his time volunteering with the Salvation Army and was always willing to lend a helping hand.
"He was happy-go-lucky, always smiling, and would help anyone," she told the inquest.
She added that her brother had struggled with alcohol addiction for much of his life but had managed to remain sober for around three years.
However, following the death of their mother, he found it increasingly difficult to maintain that sobriety.