Tri-Service
Paratrooper 'Died After Being Hit By Bus And Cars'
An inquest has ruled that a newly-trained paratrooper died as a result of an accident, after being hit by a bus and run over by two cars.
Private Matthew Wade was standing in a bus lane in a state of "extreme drunkenness", on a very dark road without a pavement, according to local reports.
The 21-year-old, who had recently passed out of Catterick Garrison and joined 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (3 PARA), was pronounced dead at the scene.
His parents attended the inquest with family members and representatives of Colchester's 16 Air Assault Brigade, which includes 3 PARA.
Senior Essex Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray told Pte Wade's family:
"It was a tragic accident. He was clearly a much loved young man with a bright future ahead of him. I hope you will be able to think about, and dwell upon, all the happy memories you have of him."
The inquest, at Essex Coroner's Court, heard he had been out drinking with comrades from Colchester before being dropped off in Chelmsford.
The collisions took place at about 3.15am on August 7, after Pte Wade had become separated from his friends.
PC James Griffin, from Essex Police’s forensic collision investigation unit, told the inquest the bus driver would not have seen Pte Wade until the last moment, while the drivers would have had no chance of avoiding him.
The bus struck Pte Wade, smashing its windscreen, before the paratrooper was thrown into a second lane, where he was run over by a Ford Fiesta and a Honda Civic.
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