A man found dead at the wheel of his car in Calne died of an overdose, a coroner ruled today.
As first reported by Wiltshire 999s, Kevin Wood, 31, was found unresponsive in a silver Peugeot parked in Newbury Avenue by a member of the public on 25 March.
Emergency services were called to the incident and paramedics attempted to save his life at the roadside. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following his death, the area was cordoned off as a crime scene and forensics and detectives worked to collect evidence and ascertain whether they believed his death was suspicious.
Police officers are said to have found wraps of controlled drugs and a pipe in the vehicle and Pathologist Dr Lawrence John found Mr Wood to have high levels of morphine in his system. This was coupled with needle marks on the Mr Wood’s skin.
At the inquest, his mother Anne told the court that her son battled with drug addiction for many years, and even sought support from the charity Turning Point.
The night prior to his death, in a text message to his other, he said he was “staying out”, but at around 8am the next day, a man called 999 reporting a man slumped in his car on Porte Marsh Industrial Estate. He told paramedics he did not want medical help and left.
Six and a half hours later, he was found in his car in Newbury Avenue, where he died.
His mother said she was “absolutely sure” he did not die by suicide as he has been making plans for the future. The coroner concluded a heroin overdose was the cause of his death.
