Couple found dead in van were followed by police
A couple were found dead inside a crashed van hours after it was followed by a police officer on mobile patrol, an inquest has heard.
Ryan Duffy, 24, and Ellie Marsden, 20, both from Wigan, died when their white Citroen Berlingo van left the B6260 near Drybeck, Cumbria, on 5 September 2021.
Earlier that night a police officer saw the couple get into the van outside a pub and, having seen it travel the wrong way along a one-way street, decided to follow, a jury heard.
At about 07:40 BST, the bodies of Mr Duffy and Ms Marsden were discovered in the extensively damaged vehicle, close to skid marks on the road.
The couple had travelled to a hotel in Appleby-in-Westmorland on Saturday 4 September 2021.
They were leaving the Hare & Hounds pub just after 00:30 BST when the officer decided to follow their vehicle.
The officer initially lost sight of the van until he saw it again as he was approaching Boroughgate in the town centre.
He then followed it on rural roads around Appleby, the inquest heard.
Assistant coroner Joseph Hart told an 11-strong jury at the inquest in Carlisle: "At times he seems to have [again] lost sight of the van.
"You will hear about how the officer followed that vehicle on those rural roads but at that stage you should be aware the officer didn't illuminate his emergency blue lights."
After a distance the officer ceased to follow that vehicle because he thought the driver might in fact have been aware of his presence, Mr Hart said.
The officer notified police control of his observations regarding the van.
He returned to Appleby and later pulled over a similar van in the town centre which proved not to be the Citroen he had originally spotted.
A statement from a witness who discovered the couple in the morning said: "The van was straight off the road and had crashed into a big tree.
"The front of the vehicle was destroyed. It must have been a huge impact with the tree."
Before evidence began, Mr Hart told jurors they would have to consider a number of issues during what was a hearing to establish facts but not to apportion blame.
Jurors would consider the route and journey taken by Mr Duffy and the movements and speed of the police officer's vehicle.
Mr Hart also said: "You will have to consider whether the police officer was involved in pursuing the Duffy van.
"You will have to consider the officer's decision to stop following that van."
The hearing, which is expected to last several days, continues.
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Two killed in van crash on rural road
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