Couple found dead in van were followed by police

Ryan Duffy and Ellie Marsden died at the scene of the crash

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 decided to follow after it travelled the wrong way along a one-way street, 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 4 September 2021.

They were leaving the Hare and Hounds pub just after 00:30 BST when the officer decided to follow their vehicle.

The officer initially lost sight of the van, then saw it again as he was approaching Boroughgate.

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 lost sight of the van.

"You will hear about how the officer followed that vehicle on rural roads but at that stage you should be aware the officer didn't illuminate his emergency blue lights."

The officer stopped following the van because he believed the driver was aware of his presence, Mr Hart said.

The officer notified police control of his observations on the vehicle.

He returned to Appleby and later pulled over a similar van in the town centre which which was not the Citroen he had originally spotted.

'Huge impact'

A statement from a witness who discovered the couple 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."

The van was discovered off the B6260 near Drybeck, Cumbria

Mr Hart told jurors they would have to consider a number of issues during the hearing to establish facts and not to apportion blame.

He said jurors would consider the route taken by Mr Duffy and the movements and speed of the police officer's vehicle.

Mr Hart 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."

Tributes to Mr Duffy and Ms Marsden were read to jurors by their mothers.

Karen Duffy said her son, a United Utilities engineer, could "light up a room with his infectious laugh".

"He was a larger than life character, always smiling and happy," she said.

"He made me proud every day."

Kelly Kennedy told jurors care assistant Ms Marsden was "loyal, loving, caring, kind and genuine".

"She just wanted to make a difference, to make everyone happy," she said.

The hearing, which is expected to last several days, continues.