**Police Issue Stark Warning as Fatal Crash Footage Released: Family of 43-Year-Old Father Left Devastated**
Gwent Police have issued a powerful warning to motorists after releasing highly distressing footage of a fatal collision which took the life of Gareth Davies, a 43-year-old father-of-two from Merthyr Tydfil. The footage, made public with the permission of Mr Davies’ family, captures the harrowing moment a car driven by Dale Groves crashed into Mr Davies’ vehicle as he was making a right turn on Fochriw Road on 13 April 2023. Authorities hope its release will serve as a sobering reminder of the life-altering impact careless driving can have.
The incident occurred in the early hours as Mr Davies was travelling to work. According to evidence presented at Cardiff Crown Court, a sequence of vehicles was moving along the route: an oil tanker led, followed by Mr Davies in his Renault Clio, and finally, Groves in his Ford Ka. The crash was triggered when Groves attempted to overtake both the tanker and Mr Davies at the junction by Biffa Waste Management in Trecatti, colliding with Davies’ car at speed.
Mr Davies’ partner, Sharon Griffiths, was alerted to the accident by a colleague of her partner, and arrived on the scene within minutes. In court, Ms Griffiths gave a heart-rending account of those moments, recounting how she attempted to comfort Gareth as he lay grievously injured. “I called out to him to let him know I was there, but he said: ‘I can’t babe, I’m sorry,’ before losing consciousness,” she told the court.
Emergency services arrived quickly, with a passing fire crew providing initial assistance before paramedics reached the scene at around 6:41am. Despite their best efforts, Mr Davies was pronounced dead just before half past seven. The presence of Mr Davies’ sons and partner at the crash site made the devastating loss all the more traumatic. “We collapsed into each other in shock, trying to keep each other standing up,” Ms Griffiths said in a moving victim impact statement to the court.
In the days and weeks that followed, the effects of the tragedy were keenly felt by Mr Davies’ family, who described feeling lost and paralysed by grief. Ms Griffiths spoke of the protracted wait for answers and justice, remarking that it took almost a year before the family learned Groves would face prosecution. The process, she said, left them suspended in a “false sense of reality” and without direction.
At his sentencing hearing, the court heard that Groves, 30, of Alfred Street, Penydarren, called emergency services repeatedly following the crash. He later pleaded guilty to causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving, though he was acquitted of the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving. Sentencing Groves to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, the court also imposed a five-year driving ban and ordered 250 hours of unpaid community work.
Ms Griffiths told the court that Groves described his actions as a ‘massive mistake’, but added that this mistake “destroyed our family”. She reflected on how their lives are now “unrecognisable” compared with before the crash, highlighting the permanent void left by her partner’s untimely death.
Gwent Police have stressed that the release of the harrowing footage is part of a broader strategy to combat careless driving. A spokesperson stated that Gareth Davies’ story is a painful illustration of how recklessness behind the wheel can tear families apart in an instant. Authorities hope that by sharing candid evidence of the consequences, drivers will carefully consider their actions and make safer choices on the roads.
The Davies family’s decision to allow the release of the crash footage is recognised as a deeply courageous one. Their willingness to support police in spreading this message may protect others from similar heartache and serve as a lasting memorial to Gareth’s life.
For those affected or seeking support, road safety advocacy groups are available across Wales and the wider UK. Gwent Police encourage anyone concerned about dangerous driving in their community to come forward and work in partnership with authorities, reinforcing the message that, indeed, “careless driving ruins lives”.