Tragic Holiday Ends in Fatal Crash
A couple from Wigan were found dead at the side of a rural road in Cumbria just hours after their van was followed by police. The bodies of 20-year-old Ellie Marsden and 24-year-old Ryan Duffy were discovered inside their crashed Citroen Berlingo on the morning of September 5, 2021.
The couple had been on a short getaway, checking into the Appleby Castle Hotel in Appleby-in-Westmorland on September 4. According to hotel staff, they appeared in good spirits, with Ryan expressing that he wanted to make Ellie happy with a night away.
Later that evening, the couple visited the Hare and Hounds pub in Appleby, where they stayed until shortly after 12:30am. CCTV footage captured Ellie getting into the passenger seat of the van, which was then driven away by Ryan.
Police Officer Followed Van Before Fatal Crash
A police officer on mobile patrol in a marked Ford Transit van saw the Citroen Berlingo leaving the pub and decided to follow it after witnessing it travel the wrong way down a one-way street. The officer continued following the van onto rural roads around Appleby but did not activate his emergency lights.
At times, the officer lost sight of the vehicle and eventually ceased following it, believing that the driver may have been aware of his presence. He later stopped a similar van in the town centre, which turned out not to be the one he had initially seen.
At around 7:40am, a married couple driving along a narrow country road near Kings Meaburn came across the wreckage of the van. The vehicle had veered off the road and crashed into a tree, leaving extensive damage. Skid marks were visible at the scene, indicating a heavy impact.
Inquest Examines Circumstances of the Crash
During an inquest into their deaths, assistant coroner Joseph Hart outlined the key issues being considered. Jurors were asked to examine the movements of the police officer, the route taken by the couple, and whether the officer’s decision to stop following the van had any bearing on the tragedy.
Tributes were paid to Ellie and Ryan by their grieving families. Ryan’s mother, Karen Duffy, described her son as a larger-than-life character who loved nature, camping, cycling, and adventure. She said he was fearless and always lived life to the fullest.
Ellie’s mother, Kelly Kennedy, remembered her daughter as a kind, loving, and loyal young woman who wanted to make a difference in the world. She described Ellie as someone who radiated warmth and whose loss had broken so many hearts.
The inquest into their deaths is ongoing.
