Luke Clarke inquest: Cause of death of 21-year-old whose car ended up in Yorkshire dyke 'unascertained' eight months on

The 21-year-old was in a green Renault Clio which came off the B1222, near Sherburn-in-Elmet, and landed in Bishop Dyke, at around 10.30pm on December 27 last year.

An inquest, opened in Northallerton today, heard the self-employed joiner who lived in the village of Goldthorpe near Barnsley was pronounced dead at the scene, at 12.12am the following day.

Catherine Cundy, Area Coroner for North Yorkshire, said: “The provisional cause of death is yet to be ascertained.”

Mr Clarke was identified by his father at York Mortuary on December 29.

Ms Cundy adjourned the inquest while the investigation continues and said a date for the next hearing will be set in the coming months.

Another man, who is in his 20s, was in the car when it crashed. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries but survived.

North Yorkshire Police closed the road for several hours to investigate the collision and the force has been appealing for witnesses and information.

Speaking in December, a spokesman said: “Officers are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time of collision or saw a green Renault Clio travelling towards Sherburn-in-Elmet in the minutes leading up to the incident and to anyone who witnessed or passed the incident, to contact them, particularly if they saw this vehicle with any other vehicles or any other vehicles around this area at this time.

“Anyone who may have dashcam footage of the vehicle before the collision or of the collision, is also asked to get in touch.”