Tiredness may have caused 22-year-old's death

Horse rider Matthew Puckett died in a car crash last June aftersuffering from the fatigue of setting up his own business, aninquest has heard.

Mr Puckett, 22, of Round Barrow Close, Colerne, had beentravelling home along the A420 from Chippenham on June 30 when hisVolvo S40 crashed just before Biddestone crossroads.

Speaking after the inquest, held in Trowbridge Town Hall onMonday, Mr Puckett's father John thanked his son's friends for theirsupport "through this awful time."

He said: "The outcome of the inquest does not really help us cometo terms with what happened, nothing ever will, but it is just atick in the box in helping us know what happened.

"His friends and all our family have pulled together and I wouldlike to thank each individually."

His mother Nicky Williams added: "No words can express ourheartfelt gratitude to the special kindness of strangers who werefirst to stop that night, who stayed with Matthew until theemergency services arrived.

"It gives us great comfort to know that Matthew was not alone.

"Our lives will never be the same without Matthew; he was anexceptional young man with an infectious laugh and a wicked sense ofhumour."

"A son, brother, grandson, nephew, friend and, not forgetting, afine horseman, he has left a gaping hole in all our lives."

Assistant coroner David Ridley recorded a verdict of accidentaldeath after he heard how much effort Mr Puckett had been ploughinginto his new livery and horse riding business.

He said: "It is quite clear he was passionate for horses and wellknown in the equestrian world for his commitment to the sport.

"He was throwing everything into getting his business up andrunning including working long and physical hours and travellingwidely.

"I believe that this demanding lifestyle contributedsignificantly to the collision."

Post-mortem tests proved that alcohol and drugs were not a factorin the collision.

The only defect found on his car was that all the tyres wereunder-inflated by up to 20 per cent, but this was deemed not to havebeen a factor.

The inquest was told that one of the first people on the scene,Dr Richard Harper, tried in vain to get into the car to try and saveMr Puckett. But the roof had collapsed, stopping him from gettingin.

The cause of death was established as a traumatic brain injurycaused by a road traffic collision.