‘Medical episode’ at wheel killed Voice of Doncaster Rovers Brian Bradley

Brian Bradley, 76, who was died alongside his wife of 50 years, Judith, 77, after his white VW Polo crashed on the M1 on July 2.

The inquest heard Mr Bradley unknowingly had a disorder called hypertensive heart disease, which could have caused him to become light-headed or suffer heart problems.

In a statement read to Doncaster Coroner’s Court, one of the couple’s two daughters Jane Alice Green, paid tribute to her “loving” parents.

She said: “Dad idolised mum, he could not have lived without her.

“Mum was the quiet one, she supported everybody else.”

Mr Bradley followed Doncaster Rovers during their spell in the Football Conference at the turn of the century while he was working for BBC Radio Sheffield.

Jane told the inquest the couple used to travel to nearby town from their home in Sheffield, every Thursday to enjoy lunch together.

The couple were travelling between junction 33 and 34 at around 1.45pm on July 2 when their car drifted across all three lanes, through the hard shoulder and onto a grass verge before disappearing from view.

Mr Bradley, who had not been breaking the 70mph speed limit, didn’t appear to slow down or brake.

CCTV footage showed the car was being driven carefully before the accident.

Dr Ian Richmond told the inquest a post mortem examination showed Brian, who who suffered from type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure, had hypertensive heart disease.

Recording a verdict of death by road traffic collision, Assistant Coroner Mark Beresford said: “Mr Bradley was an experienced and careful driver. It’s difficult to imagine he would not have taken steps to stop this tragic incident.

“On the balance of probability, it is my opinion that he suffered a medical episode as a result of underlying hypertensive heart disease.

“This most likely resulted in loss of consciousness or control, but it’s impossible to say exactly what happened.”