Court hears how Good Samaritan motorist died in the snow

The man who died in the collision on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales last week was named by police as Paul Clarkson, 57, from East Appleton, near Richmond.

North Yorkshire Police described earlier how Mr Clarkson was standing behind his Land Rover Defender when he was struck by a Land Rover Freelander.

He had stopped to help recover a Vauxhall Corsa from a ditch at Bellerby Bank, between Richmond and Leyburn, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, when the accident happened.

A force spokesman said the incident happened on the A6108 at 7pm on December 2.

He said Mr Clarkson stopped to help recover the Vauxhall Corsa, which had left the road and ended up in a ditch.

As he was standing behind his vehicle, he was hit by the Freelander, which was travelling down Bellerby Bank, trapping him between the two vehicles. The Defender was also shunted into the Corsa.

Mr Clarkson was taken to Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, with serious injuries. Officers said he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Mr Clarkson's wife, who has not been named, was in the passenger seat of the Defender when it was struck but was not injured.