Inquest opened into the death of M60 crash victim
AN inquest has opened into the death of a man who was killed when a BMW travelling the wrong way crashed into his car on the M60.
David Faulkner, 66, was pronounced dead at the scene on the motorway near Stockport on May 27.
The BMW, which was believed to be stolen, had been involved in a police pursuit in the minutes leading up the horror crash.
Brandon Geasley Pryde, 18, who was driving the BMW, was also pronounced dead at the scene.
During a short hearing at South Manchester Coroner’s Court, Mr Faulkner was identified as a retired engineer, who had been living in Denton at the time of his death.
He leaves behind his wife, the court heard.
Police Coroner’s Officer, Thompson Nicholls, told the inquest that Mr Faulkner was pronounced dead at around 23.02pm on May 27.
He was identified using documents found inside his Vauxhall, the court heard.
A post-mortem examination concluded that Mr Faulkner had died as a result of multiple injuries, due to a road traffic collision.
A provisional inquest date has been set for January 7, 2022.
The crash has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
In a statement, the police watchdog previously said that at around 10.15pm on May 27, police saw a black BMW travelling on Altrincham Road towards the Sharston Link.
The car was believed to be stolen, and after the driver had failed to stop for officers, a pursuit began.
The BMW is understood to have travelled onto the M56 and then the M60, before leaving the motorway at junction 27 for Stockport East.
It drove back onto the M60, travelling on the wrong side of the carriageway in the direction of oncoming traffic, the watchdog said.
The BMW was then involved in a crash with a red Vauxhall being driven by Mr Faulkner. It is understood the BMW was not being chased in the seconds before the crash at around 11pm.
A 40-year-old man has been charged over the theft of the BMW.
James Fraser, of Bosden Fold, Stockport, has been charged with one count of burglary and one count of taking a vehicle without consent.
He has been remanded into custody ahead of an appearance at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court.
The police watchdog says it has taken evidence from GMP officers involved and dashcam footage from the police vehicles in the pursuit.
Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information is urged to email M60Stockport@ policeconduct.gov.uk or call 0300 303 5579.
Alternatively, call GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4741 or report information online at gmp.police.uk, quoting incident 3093 of May 27, 2021.