A GARAGE owner from Weaverham died in a car crash in Winsford when he lost control of his car and hit a van coming the other way, an inquest heard.
David Ashbrook, 58, of Church Lane, died in Leighton Hospital following the collision on November 7 last year.
Deputy Cheshire coroner Dr Janet Napier heard on Friday how mechanic Andrew Turner had inspected a problem with the catalytic converter on the VW Passat earlier that day and returned it to Mr Ashbrook, who in turn dropped him back at his garage.
But making his way back to his own garage on High Street, he took a bend too quickly, clipped the kerb and lost control.
Property developer Jason Waldron was travelling with employee Piotr Sokolowski in the other direction.
He told the inquest: “We saw a car come around the corner out of control. The car was weaving, it came sort of sideways at first and then looked like it was trying to straighten up, and that was it. The next thing it was bang.
“I remember coming around in the van and seeing Piotr outside. I got hold of my leg and tried to lift it out of the way, squealed and blacked out again.”
All three casualties were taken to Leighton Hospital, where Mr Ashbrook later died. His wife Ruth said they were going on holiday just a few days later.
She said: “I popped into the garage at lunchtime and he was in the middle of doing a customer’s car – and he squirted me with water.
“I got a phone call at 6pm saying he was in hospital, so I went there. They said he was stable.
“The scans had been done and they were waiting for an opinion from North Staffordshire Hospital. It came back and they said there was nothing they could do.”
A pathology report confirmed Mr Ashbrook had died from severe head injuries. Dr Napier recorded a verdict of accidental death.
