'I can't babe I'm sorry', dying man's last words to partner at scene of fatal crash

Wales Online

16-05-2025

'I can't babe I'm sorry', dying man's last words to partner at scene of fatal crash
Gareth Davies was killed by careless driver Dale Groves as his partner Sharon Griffiths' final moments with him were told to a court
Dale Groves was found guilty of causing death by careless driving. Pictured here outside outside Newport Crown Court
(Image: John Myers )
The partner of a motorist who was killed after a careless driver drove into the side of his car described how a "massive mistake" had "destroyed our family". Sharon Griffiths also told the court how she and her sons "collapsed into each other in shock" after they rushed to the scene of the accident, where he lay dying.
Gareth Davies, 43, told Sharon, "I can't babe, I'm sorry", as she tried to comfort him at the scene of the crash in Fochriw Road, Merthyr Tydfil, on April 13, 2023. She was later joined by their sons at the side of the road as they were told "the worst news imaginable".
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Cardiff Crown Court heard how Dale Groves, 30, white Ford Ka smashed into the side of his black Renault Clio as Groves attempted an overtaking manoeuvre at the junction with Biffa Waste Management in Trecatti.
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In the short time leading up to the crash, a convoy of three vehicles formed travelling along the road comprising a large oil tank lorry at the front followed by Mr Davies' Renault in the middle and Groves' Ford at the back. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here
The tanker was driven by professional driver Jamie Cummings at around 25mph. Although Mr Cummings could not see Mr Davies' car in his mirrors, due to his blind spot, it was heard that he could see Groves' car "attempting to overtake him a number of times".
During a trial at Newport Crown Court, prosecutor Ieuan Bennett said: "By the time they reached the Biffa landfill site it seems the defendant, according to the prosecution, was determined to overtake both vehicles…What happened in reality was just as Mr Davies was turning right into the Biffa site across both lanes of the highway the defendant, at speed [and] travelling too close to the black car, drove right into the side of Mr Davies' vehicle in the overtaking lane…After the collision the defendant did his best to help but by then of course it was too late.'
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To make the right turn into Biffa it was heard that Mr Davies had slowed down to between five and nine miles per hour while Groves was travelling at an estimated speed of between 46 and 50mph. The speed limit on the road is 60mph.
Following the incident Groves called 999 on three occasions in an attempt to get help. On one occasion he told the court how Groves was told there could be a wait of 'over three hours'. He said a fire engine was the first responder at the scene with paramedics arriving from 6.41am. Mr Davies was pronounced dead at 7.25am.
The defendant, of Alfred Street, Penydarren, Merthyr Tydfil, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless/inconsiderate driving, and was acquitted of the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
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During his sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, a heartrending statement from Mr Davies' partner Sharon Griffiths was read out in which she spoke of her devastating loss.
She said: "I first found out Gareth had been in an accident when one of his colleagues contacted me that day. He stopped at the scene of the crash and stayed by his side. Gareth was conscious and able to communicate.
"I left and rushed to the scene and was shocked by the sheer volume of emergency vehicles... Gareth was very distressed and was clearly in a lot of pain. I called out to him to let him know I was there to reassure and comfort him and get him to calm down so the firefighter could help him, but he said: 'I can't babe, I'm sorry'.
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"He became quiet and lost consciousness. The firefighters performed CPR on him and started shouting where the ambulance was....
"Some time passed and the ambulance arrived and Gareth was worked on continuously. Things were getting frantic and the air ambulance and both my sons arrived within seconds of each other. It felt like hours but it was probably minutes.
"I was approached by two people, a doctor and a police officer who told us the worst news imaginable. There was nothing else that could be done and Gareth had passed away. We collapsed into each other in shock, trying to keep each other standing up.
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"Gareth was put into the back of an ambulance and we were allowed to spend time with him before he was transported to the hospital mortuary. A feeling of numbness and a false sense of reality followed in the weeks. We had to wait for the post mortem and felt helpless, we had no sense of purpose. There was no way to move forward as if everything had stopped."
Ms Griffiths said it took a year before they found Groves was going to be prosecuted and it felt like they had been left without answers. She described the trial as "heartbreaking" after coming face to face with the defendant.
She added: "The driver used the phrase 'massive mistake'. His massive mistake has destroyed our family. Our lives are unrecognisable to what they were. Gareth's life was taken and ours were ruined."
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Ms Griffiths said Mr Davies "lived for his family" and would help anyone who needed it. She said he was known in the neighbourhood for fixing things and helping people.
She said they met 20 years ago and had two sons. She said her partner and her sons enjoyed going to watch the Isle of Man TT, and shared a love of rugby.
Ms Griffiths said: "Since we've lost Gareth, we've had big events and each of them are incredibly hard. So many things he's been robbed of and so many things he's been missing, big things, little things, so many things the boys won't be able to tell their dad about.
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"He would have been so proud of them both. The boys have been sentenced to a lifetime without their father and friend. Every day we wish he was here and they could talk to him.... His life was snatched away doing something as normal as going to work...
"We were a team, we shared everything and it's now just me. I'm trying to split myself to be a loving supportive mother, to make sure we have everything we need and to make sure I have enough hours in work...
"Every plan is gone, our future is over, we spent 20 years together. He was it for me, Gareth truly was my other half, the other piece of me. I am slowly trying to find out what life without him will be like. My first and only priority will be our boys."
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In mitigation, defence barrister Kevin Seal said Groves' case did not involve excessive speed, alcohol, or drugs. He said the defendant feels awful and doesn't know how to apologise or express the enormity of the loss of Mr Davies' family. It was said he is a father of two children.
Sentencing, Judge Daniel Williams said: "Gareth was a loving and loyal man who lived for his family and community and was a proud dad. Happy family milestones will always be marred by his absence. Your actions that morning have robbed Mr Davies and his family and friends of his future and their futures together."
Groves was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment suspended for two years. He was ordered to carry out 250 hours unpaid work and disqualified from driving for five years.
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