Two men killed in Oswestry A5 crash named at formal inquest opening

Two men who died in a crash near Oswestry on Sunday have been identified at the formal start of inquests into their deaths.

John Frederick Exelby Moore, 81, a retired school teacher from Shrewsbury, and farmer John Llewelyn Breese, 33, of Meifod, Powys, perished on the A5 near the Mile End junction.

The Coroner’s Court in Shrewsbury heard that at 5 p.m. on November 17, Mr Moore was driving a Peugeot westbound on the A5 between the Wolfshead roundabout and the Mile End Roundabout when he collided head on with a Renault box van driven by Mr Breese in the opposite direction.

Heath Westerman, Shropshire assistant coroner, was informed on Thursday that Mr Breese, a married man from Grange Road in Shrewsbury, and Mr Moore, a single male, were pronounced dead within minutes of each other.

Mr Westerman heard that despite the best efforts of the emergency services both men were confirmed deceased.

He formally opened the inquests and delayed the complete hearing to March 27, 2025.

Following the crash, the West Midlands Ambulance Service said it had dispatched three ambulances, two paramedic officers, a Midlands Air Ambulance crew, and a medic from Wales Air Ambulance.

A spokeswoman stated, “Upon arrival, we discovered four victims from the truck and the automobile.

“First, the driver of the first car, and then the driver of the lorry, both of whom were evaluated, but it was evident that nothing could be done to save them, and they were pronounced dead at the scene.

“The third and fourth occupants in the lorry were a woman and a toddler. Both were evaluated and found to have had injuries that were not considered significant.

“They were taken to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for further examination. No other patients required treatment.”

West Mercia Police asked for witnesses.

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police stated, “Officers are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage of the incident.”