Icy road led to death of dad of three

NEW YEAR TRAGEDY . . . Paul Crowther with his wife Susan

Inquest hears he was double drink-drive limit

A FAMILY’S New Year celebration turned to tragedy when a father-of-three was killed in a crash in France.

Paul Crowther (46), from Springhead, suffered spinal injuries when he was thrown from his Toyota Landcruiser which skidded off an icy country road near to his holiday home.

A toxicology report showed he was slightly less than two and a half times over the UK drink-driving limit.

His wife Susan was left with a broken leg, a shattered ankle, a dislocated neck and holes in her head when the 4x4 rolled 20 metres into a field.

Her brother, John Gamble, scrambled free in darkness and freezing temperatures to raise the alarm — with broken ribs and abdominal injuries.

An inquest heard yesterday that the crash happened on a sharp bend at around 8.15 pm.

The family had seen in the New Year at the couple’s recently renovated holiday home close to Châlus. They then went out for lunch, drinking four bottles of wine between six adults.

Mr Crowther, of Cooper Street, later drove his wife and brother-in-law to find a restaurant for dinner. They stopped at a pub where he was said to have had two small bottles of beer.

Mrs Crowther worked for the family haulage contractors and plant hire firm and leaves three children: Alison (24), Louise (21) and Michael (16).

His wife described him as a strong family man and said: “We have all been blessed by knowing him.”

Recalling the accident, she said he was a safe driver and added: “Paul was not driving fast. I remember that the car was skidding on the ice and that was all . . . I was trapped in the car.”

A police report confirmed there was black ice and no street lights or warning sign for the “extremely sharp bend”.

Mr Gamble, also of Cooper Street, woke up in the wreckage and said in statement: “Paul was driving at normal speed. There was a left-hand bend with ice on the road. I remember the car skidded.

“Paul tried to gain control by steering into the skid on the other side The tyre came off the rim and we rolled over into the field.”

Oldham coroner Simon Nelson recorded a verdict of accidental death, describing the driving conditions as treacherous.

He stressed the case highlighted the grossly irresponsible risks of drinking and driving and added: “I cannot ignore the presence of alcohol and the effect of that alcohol.”