An interior designer was tragically killed when his car crashed into a tree on the A5032 Whitby Road at Backford, an inquest has heard.

Craig Felton, of Bowling Green Court in Northwich, died on August 24 last year.

The 34-year-old father-of-four, who worked at Lifestyle Interiors, had been returning from a weekend at his friend Michelle Mellen’s home in Ellesmere Port, travelling in the direction of Chester in his Peugeot 206 on the single carriageway, which is national speed limit.

Police officers investigate the scene of the fatal collision in Whitby Lane at Backford where a Peugeot 206 collided with a tree
Police officers investigate the scene of the fatal collision in Whitby Lane at Backford where a Peugeot 206 collided with a tree

Ms Mellen, who had been friends with Mr Felton since their teenage years, told the hearing at Warrington Coroner’s Court that they had spent the day before he died shopping for holiday clothes as he was due to go on holiday the following month.

In a statement read out to the court, witness Craig Smith recalled the night of August 24, 2014.

The horticultural technician had been driving along Whitby Road after visiting the Vue Cinema at Cheshire Oaks with his brother and friend.

He became aware of a car behind him which he said he ‘thought at first was a police car because it accelerated very fast’.

He said Mr Felton’s car, which he estimated was travelling at around 60mph, overtook him quickly but that he was ‘not concerned’.

Police officers investigate the scene of the fatal collision in Whitby Lane at Backford where a Peugeot 206 collided with a tree
Police officers investigate the scene of the fatal collision in Whitby Lane at Backford where a Peugeot 206 collided with a tree

Mr Smith added: “The brake lights came on when he started to negotiate the bend.

“As the Peugeot neared the bend, it moved closer to the curb on the left, gradually. I saw the car drift across the road and sparks. I did not see him leave the road.”

PC Steve Binns, from Cheshire Constabulary’s Collision Investigation Unit, told the inquest that it is not possible to calculate the speed that Mr Felton – who was born and raised in Winsford – was travelling at due to the nature of the impact.

PC Binns explained that the Peugeot had hit the curb, deflating a tyre and sending the vehicle into oversteer.

He said: “It is likely that the driver steered hard to the right in an attempt to return to the Chester-bound lane. It would have been difficult to retain control.”

He acknowledged an allegation made following the collision that the brakes had been interfered with, but explained that a full investigation was carried out and there was no evidence of tampering.

The toxicology report found that he had no drugs or alcohol in his system.

Delivering a conclusion of death due to a road traffic collision, assistant coroner for Cheshire Dr Janet Elizabeth Napier said: “It is a terrible loss. He was a young man enjoying life.

“It is simply that he touched the curb and the tyre deflated upon that. Then it went into oversteer.

“If it had happened a little bit before or after then we would not be sitting here today.”