Mystery surrounds death of Accrington man after crash

Road policing chiefs believe that the motorist, said to be a local man in his 60s, may have suffered a heart attack or another medical emergency immediately beforehand.

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His Vauxhall Corsa, which was travelling in the direction of Clayton-le-Moors, came to a halt after being involved in a low-speed collision with some metal railings in Whalley Road.

No other vehicle is thought to have been caught up in the incident, which took place at around 5.30am close to the Grey Horse pub and the former Oaklea Tavern, near the junction of Hawksworth Road and Orange Street.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “The Corsa collided with a metal barrier which forms part of a pedestrian crossing.

“The occupant of the vehicle, a man in his 60s, was found behind the wheel. He was later taken to the Royal Preston Hospital, where he was officially pronounced dead.

“The driver is believed to have suffered a medical episode before the collision took place.”

Officers yesterday sealed off Whalley Road, between Ribblesdale Avenue and the Accrington Victoria Hospital crossroads, for around two to three hours while an initial examination was made of the scene.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing more than half a dozen police and emergency service vehicles assembled around the crash site.

Roger Stone, landlord of The Grey Horse, was awoken by police officers shortly after the collision and asked if he could provide CCTV footage of the road outside.

“They knocked on the front door and that was the first thing that we knew about,” said Mr Stone, who runs the pub with his wife Angie.

The officers reviewed CCTV film of the moments leading up to the crash and told the couple they would return to collect the footage later.

Police will now prepare a file on the collision for the consideration of Blackburn and Hyndburn coroner Michael Singleton.

The identity of the driver had not been released last night as police were still waiting to inform his next of kin.