(Image: Paul Cording)
A MAN died after he was "ejected" from a car following a crash on the A64 in North Yorkshire, an inquest has heard.
Wayne Kristian Powell was pronounced dead at the scene after the crash near Crambeck in the early hours of January 22, 2025.
The 51-year-old, of Morley, Leeds, was found in a tree by police after the collision and despite the efforts of the emergency services, his death was confirmed by paramedics at 4.13am.
Coroner Jonathan Leach concluded that Mr Powell's death was due to a road traffic collision. Mr Powell's medical cause of death was given as neck injuries.
Mr Powell had been driving a Vauxhall Corsa on the A64 eastbound when he was asked to stop by police at around 3.30am, the inquest on Tuesday (October 6) heard.
PC Benjamin Stevens, who was travelling in an unmarked police car, said he was overtaken by Mr Powell as the road turned from dual carriageway to single carriageway.
The police officer told Northallerton Coroners' Court he was travelling at 50mph and estimated that Mr Powell was driving at around 80mph when he overtook him.
PC Stevens said he activated his blue lights but lost sight of Mr Powell, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, two or three seconds later due to a dip in the road.
He told the court he next saw Mr Powell when he stopped to help him at the side of the road after the crash.
Mr Stevens said a matter of seconds passed between him activating the blue lights and Mr Powell crashing.
Driver wasn't wearing seatbelt when crash happened, inquest hears
Investigators found Mr Powell had oversteered when navigating a bend which resulted in him losing control of the vehicle and the car turning 180 degrees and leaving the road backwards.
Mr Leach said evidence showed Mr Powell’s seatbelt was “secured behind the driver of the vehicle”, leaving him unrestrained.
It meant Mr Powell was ejected through the car's rear window, he said.
- Man died in A64 crash seconds after being asked to stop
- Man dies after car leaves A64 in North Yorkshire and crashes into tree
The coroner said Mr Powell was not under the influence of alcohol and no mechanical defects were noted on the car.
He said investigators found the Corsa’s damage suggested a high-speed impact but they could not establish the car's exact speed when it crashed.
North Yorkshire Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over the crash.
A force spokesperson previously said it is "mandatory for a police force to refer itself to the IOPC following a death with any police involvement".
Mr Leach said the IOPC found there was no evidence to indicate that the police officers may have contributed to the crash.