Brother and sister, three and four, were killed when a van smashed into their car, inquest hears
Brother and sister, three and four, were killed when a van smashed into their car on the hard shoulder of the M4 as their mother drove them home from a birthday party, inquest hears
Gracie-Ann and Jayden-Lee Lucas died when hit by a car on M4 on February 5The siblings, four and three, suffered multiple injuries and died later in hospitalFamily were driving after a birthday party when they stopped on hard shoulderThe car was stationary when it was hit by Martin Newman, 41, an inquest heard
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A brother and sister were killed when a van smashed into their car on the hard shoulder as their mother drove them way home from a birthday party, an inquest heard.
Gracie-Ann Lucas, four, and her brother Jayden-Lee Lucas, three, were sat in the back of their family car when it was hit by van driver Martin Newman, 41, on the M4 motorway on February 5.
The family had been driving home from a birthday party when they pulled over on to the hard shoulder and stopped.
The car was stationary when it was hit by the Ford Transit van near Tredegar Park in Newport, Gwent, the inquest heard.
Both children suffered multiple injuries and died later in hospital.
Gracie-Ann Lucas, four, and her brother Jayden-Lee Lucas (both pictured), three, were in their family car when it was hit by Martin Newman, 41, on the M4 motorway on February 5
The youngsters, from Tredegar, had been returning from a birthday party at around 1.45pm on February 5 when the car they were travelling in collided with a van. Jayden (pictured left) and Gracie-Ann (pictured right) suffered multiple injuries and died later in hospital
A post-mortem examination, carried out by Dr Stephen Leadbeatter, found Gracie-Ann died as a result of multiple injuries at 4.45am the following day.
Brother Jayden-Lee was also rushed to the University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff but died five days later.
A post-mortem examination found he died as a result of a blunt force head injury. He was identified by his parents.
The siblings, also known by the surname Wheaton, had been in the car with their mother Rhiannon Lucas and her partner.
Newman, of Croeserw, South Wales, admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
He also pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving to mother Rhiannon Lucas at Cardiff Crown Court.
The inquest in Newport was adjourned by senior coroner Caroline Saunders for a date to be fixed.
Newman will be sentenced on April 8 before Judge Daniel Williams.
A 41-year-old man today appeared in court charged with causing death by dangerous driving in relation to the crash (pictured: Cars queued on the motorway following the collision)
Gracie-Ann (pictured left and right) suffered a cardiac arrest due to the severity of her injuries and died the following day at around 5am
Tributes flooded in for Gracie-Ann and Jayden-Lee following their deaths, with loved ones describing them as ‘delightful’ children.
Headteacher Huw Waythe, of Deighton Primary School, described the siblings as two ‘special children’.
He said: ‘Everyone at the school is immensely sad to hear of the passing of a second pupil following a road traffic collision on 5th February 2022.
‘Our thoughts remain with members of the family, and words cannot adequately express the shock and pain which they must be feeling.
‘We are shocked and saddened by the loss of two of our own. We will never forget how special the children were to our school community.
‘They both put a smile on all our faces daily. They were a delight to have and both always lit up any room with their positive personality and beaming smiles.
‘Gracie-Ann and Jayden-Lee’s lives will continue to be celebrated and remembered by us all.
Jayden and Gracie-Ann (both pictured), and their parents, were rushed to the intensive care unit (ICU) of University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, following the crash
‘They both have a special place in our hearts and Deighton Primary School will never forget them.
‘We will support each other through this, seeking and providing further specific professional assistance for those pupils and staff who find this time the most upsetting.
‘We ask that you give us your support by allowing us some time to process our thoughts and feelings.’
In a family statement, cousin Jamie Lucas, 19, from Abergavenny, said: ‘He [Jayden] was wonderful, creative and a kind soul. Turned the grey skies blue.
‘She [Gracie-Ann] was so young. She had a bright future ahead of her. She was such a wonderful child.’
A GoFundMe page, which was set up to raise money for the siblings’ funeral, has raised almost £16,000.
