Riddle of country road death crash

9:36am Wednesday 12th March 2008

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DEBRIS in the road may have caused the crash in which a Bolton man was killed on a dark country road, an inquest heard.

Back seat passenger Alex Hargreaves died instantly when a Volkswagen Lupo driven by his friend Paul Hinsley smashed into a car going the opposite way, veered on to an embankment and hit a metal gatepost.

Mr Hargreaves, aged 28, of Bury Road, Breightmet, had been out for a drive with friends when the crash happened on the A675 near Abbey Village, north of Bolton, at 8.45pm on October 26 last year.

Preston Coroners Court heard yesterday that Mr Hinsley, aged 27, of Breightmet, was driving his girlfriend's new car.

Mitesh Patel, of Fairmount Avenue, Breightmet, was in the front seat and all three men were wearing seatbelts.

It was dark, the road surface was wet and the road unlit.

Mr Hinsley has no memory of the accident but believes he may have struck something.

He told the police in an interview: "I do believe that the bump beforehand had something to do with it," the inquest heard.

Mr Patel, who is still using crutches after breaking his leg in the accident, told the inquest: "It felt like we hit something like a pothole. The car spun out to the left, Paul tried to correct it by turning right, but the car ended up on the other side of the road."

As they came round a bend, Mr Hinsley lost control and the car slid sideways before being struck by a Ford Focus.

Mr Hargreaves was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr Hinsley escaped with bruising, while Mr Patel spent a few days in hospital for treatment to his leg.

The Focus driver Cherry Jackson, aged 44, from Euxton, Chorley, was treated for shock.

PC Adrian Harrison of Lancashire Police's accident investigation department estimated both cars were travelling within the 60mph speed limit and had no defects.

Consultant pathologist Dr Helen Stringfellow said Mr Hargreaves died instantly, suffering massive spinal, heart and internal injuries.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Nicola Mundy said: "The initial loss of control probably happened because the vehicle did strike something on the road.

"The loss of control continued, I believe, partly due to the speed at which the vehicle was being driven, which was perhaps too fast due to the bend and road conditions."