Road tragedy as music fan 'left overgrown path'

Tragedy struck after Andrew Kennedy, 27, had spent the evening with his wife Kimberley among the crowds enjoying The Prodigy, Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead at Leeds Festival in Bramham Park, near Wetherby.

The inquest hear the couple, from Kingsway West, Acomb, York, who had been childhood sweethearts, doted on each other and did everything together.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Coroner Rob Turnbull told the hearing it was one of the worst tragedies he had ever come across.

Although they were due to walk the 15 miles home together after the event on August 28 last year, the couple became separated during the course of the evening.

So as they made their way back to York independently, Mr Kennedy was walking ahead of his wife along a path which was partially blocked by undergrowth.

The hearing was told that the footpath was not used very much and had become overgrown. This may have led Mr Kennedy to abandon the footway and walk in the carriageway.

Mrs Kennedy came across the aftermath of the accident involving a lorry on the A659 near Tadcaster in which her partner suffered fatal head injuries.

She was by his side when he died in Leeds General Infirmary, the hearing at Selby Magistrates' Court was told. Mrs Kennedy said: "We had been together since we were 15 and we were inseparable.

"He was not just my husband, he was my soul mate. We did everything together. We went to university together. Part of me is missing."

Constable Stuart Langford, who investigated the accident, said the stretch of footpath was overgrown. Because of this it was possible he stumbled in to the side of the lorry as it passed.

Toxicology tests showed Mr Kennedy had been drinking at the festival but there was no suggestion alcohol had played any part in what happened.

North Yorkshire Coroner Mr Turnbull said: "I can see no evidence that this vehicle was being driven anything other than a normal manner and there is no evidence that the vehicle struck Mr Kennedy rather than the other way round."

Mystery surrounded certain aspects of the tragedy. "We will probably never know why Mr Kennedy stumbled or came into contact with that vehicle," the coroner said.

"But I note the concerns about the maintenance of the footpath which may have resulted in Mr Kennedy leaving the footpath and walking on the carriageway or having to walk on rough ground.

"I see a lot of tragic occurrences, but this is one of the more tragic I've come across."

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said: "The footpath that runs along the A659 to the west of Tadcaster is a little used footpath which consequently had become overgrown with vegetation.

"Since the fatal accident at the site the footpath has been cleared of vegetation.

"All road deaths are deeply regrettable and tragic for family and friends and the county council continues to work hard alongside its partners to reduce the number of fatalities on North Yorkshire's Highways."