Stowupland father-of-three Connor Ruffles lost control of van after suffering 'medical collapse' - inquest

A father-of-three died following a head-on crash caused when he passed out at the wheel due to a pre-existing brain condition, an inquest has heard.

Connor Ruffles, 26, a carpenter from Stowupland, had been driving his Ford Transit van along the A1120 at Forward Green in Earl Stonham when it collided with an oncoming Skoda Octavia taxi on the morning of July 1, 2021.

Mr Ruffles was assisted at the scene by the emergency services and airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, but died five days later on July 6.

He had suffered multiple and complex injuries, which were 'just too great for him to cope with', Coroner Nigel Parsley said.

Today's inquest heard Mr Ruffles had been seen by doctors for a brain condition that caused him to suffer with 'so much pain' he would grab his head in agony.

There was evidence from a collision investigator that Mr Ruffles - who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident - had taken no action such as braking to avoid the collision. It happened on a bend while he was driving at 'potentially' 49mph.

Pathologist evidence found it was 'possible' the brain malformation could have led to an episode of full respiratory collapse before the accident.

Mr Parsley said he thought Mr Ruffles’ brain condition contributed to his death. He concluded he died as a result of a road traffic accident, which was caused by medical collapse.

He said: "We do have a significant amount of evidence in relation to this brain condition.

"I have heard cases in the past where someone says someone had these episodes and blacked out, but it was never really supported by any medical evidence...well Connor's case is completely different. We have got a well-documented condition we know about."

He said he found it 'more likely than not' that Mr Ruffles suffered a medical episode prior to the collision.

Speaking about his brain condition, his wife Amy said when he found out he had it he was actually driving at the time and 'blacked out', forcing someone else to take the steering wheel.

She said her husband had never been told by doctors he could not drive, adding: "He would never have put us at risk. He would not have driven, let alone with me in there, but our three children in there."

Mr Ruffles had been awaiting further medical follow-ups in relation to his brain condition, she said.

The inquest heard on the day of the crash the roads were quiet and the weather was dry, in a statement by the taxi driver involved.

As the taxi driver approached a left-hand bend he slowed down to about 25mph and became aware of Mr Ruffles' van and remembered thinking 'that van needs to slow down'.

While the single-carriageway road has the national speed limit, collision investigator Pc Daniel Smythe said the speed Mr Ruffles was travelling at was too fast for that corner.

The taxi driver attempted to avoid the collision and woke up in a field, after apparently being unconscious.

Speaking of the taxi driver, Pc Smythe said: "He's got as far into the verge as he could have reasonably done."

Since the accident, the taxi driver has been in and out of hospital and has not yet returned to work.