Solicitor, 30, killed in RTA helped three people through organ donation, inquest hears

A 30-year-old solicitor who was killed in a road traffic collision helped three people who received her donated organs, an inquest has heard.

Emily Thornton-Sandy was seriously injured in a head on crash with 90-year-old John Howell Price, who was driving the wrong way down the A48 in Carmarthenshire, south Wales, on 5 November last year.

Thornton-Sandy, who died six days later, was an asbestos specialist for national firm Thompsons Solicitors working from its offices in Cardiff and Llanelli. In addition to her work, she tirelessly supported asbestos victim support groups in Wales, including Asbestos Awareness and Support Cymru, as well as Mesothelioma UK, the firm said.

An inquest into her death this week concluded she died of a ‘road traffic collision’, after a coroner concluded the reason why Price was driving the wrong way remained ‘unknown’.

Dyfed Powys Police confirmed at the inquest that concerns had been raised with the DVLA in 2023 about Price’s eyesight, after an incident which was reported to police. But, following medical examinations and an eye test, there was not sufficient evidence to label Price as unfit to drive, the inquest heard.

The senior coroner for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, Paul Bennett, when offering his condolences to Thornton-Sandy’s family, also noted three people had benefited from organ donation following her death.

In a statement following the incident, Clare Mellor, chief executive of Thompsons Solicitors, said: ‘The tragic loss of our friend and colleague, Emily Thornton, deeply saddens everyone at Thompsons. Her passing has affected us all, and we are united in mourning a remarkable young lawyer who left an indelible mark on our firm and the people she helped.

‘Emily was a brilliant and compassionate asbestos lawyer. Her natural empathy and dedication to those affected by asbestos-related illnesses, coupled with the fact she was a technically gifted and highly able lawyer, made her an invaluable part of our team. She combined immense sensitivity with an unyielding commitment to justice, embodying the qualities essential to support clients through challenging times. 

‘Her work gave hope to those facing devastating situations, and her impact is best reflected by what her clients thought of her and the comfort she provided.’

Thornton-Sandy earned her law degree from Cardiff University, joining Thompsons initially as a support assistant in its asbestos team while studying for her Legal Practice Course at Swansea University, then becoming a trainee solicitor in 2017 and qualifying into the Welsh asbestos team in 2020.