Popular soldier was killed after he walked into path on an oncoming car while ‘smiling at his phone’
- Private Robert Myers, 39, was killed by a car after being distracted by his phone
A popular and experienced soldier was ‘smiling at his phone’ when he walked into the path of an oncoming car and was killed, an inquest heard.
Private Robert Myers, 39, was distracted by his phone when he stepped out into a road, ‘oblivious’ to the black BMW coming towards him.
It was ‘impossible’ for the driver to avoid him, the hearing was told.
Pte Myers, was hit around 2pm on September, 18 2022 near Winchester, Hampshire.
The 39-year-old, of the Royal Logistics Corps, based at Worthy Down, near Winchester, died in hospital three days later.
Private Robert Myers, 39, was ‘smiling at his mobile phone’ when he stepped out into a road, ‘oblivious’ to the black BMW coming towards him
Pte Myers, was hit around 2pm on September, 18 2022 near Winchester, Hampshire
Pte Myers, a Northern Irishman from the city of Lisburn, was named ‘best recruit’ in the Irish Reserve Army in 2001 and joined the British Army in 2015.
At his inquest at Winchester Coroner’s Court, his mother Rosemary Myers said: ‘He had lots of friends. He excelled at table tennis and he represented the British Army. He took great pride in that.
‘Throughout his life, he was an all-round sportsman.
‘He joined the British Army in 2015, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather. He was a bundle of fun.’
The driver of the BMW one series that hit Pte Myers, Pavlos Conway, said the soldier didn’t see him.
In a statement, Mr Conway said: ‘Mr Myers stepped out on the left side of the road, from a footpath.
‘He was carrying a black bag and was smiling at his mobile phone. I was braking sharply, but he was oblivious to me.’
The inquest heard Pte Myers tried to avoid the car by running across the road, but hit the car’s windscreen.
Coroner Jason Pegg said Mr Conway did all he could to avoid Pte Myers.
Mr Pegg said: ‘On the day he died, it seems to me he was using his mobile phone.
‘He emerged onto Down Farm Lane through the foliage, which hid him from the view of the approaching BMW.
‘The driver did what he could to avoid him, but it was impossible to avoid.’
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