Uninsured teenager lost control of his car

AN uninsured teenager whose Toyota MR2 had a "seriously dangerous and defective" tyre lost control of his car and struck a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction, killing both drivers.

Zohiab Ahmed Waqas, aged 19, and Suzuki Grand Vitara driver John Read, aged 49, suffered serious injuries and died shortly afterwards at Morriston Hospital.

A number of family members attended yesterday's inquest where details of the fatal collision on Cwmbach Road, between Cockett and Waunarlwydd, on July 14 last year were revealed.

It emerged that Mr Waqas, who would have celebrated his 20th birthday the day after the crash, had recently been charged with driving without insurance and was due to appear at Swansea Magistrates Court in August 2008.

Coroner Philip Rogers said: "It makes it incumbent on us all that tyres on our vehicles are regularly checked.

"But for the defect on that tyre we would not be sat here this afternoon."