(1) He had a relationship with (Not public).
Child(ren):
(2) He had a relationship with (Not public).
Child(ren):
David Joseph Smith | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Not public) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Not public) |
A MAN with mental health problems apparently walked into the path of a van on a motorway section of the A1.David Smith, 29, is believed to have died instantly, from multiple injuries, after the accident on the northbound carriageway of the A1(M), three-quarters of a mile north of the Blind Lane interchange, at Chester-le-Street.An inquest, in Durham, was told Mr Smith, of Irthing Avenue, Walker, Newcastle, appeared in front of Peter Ward's 7.5-tonne box van on an unlit stretch of the motorway, shortly after 7.30pm on Friday, December 7.Mr Ward, from Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, who was heading to Scotland, told the hearing he had not seen Mr Smith standing beside, or walking along, the road before he saw him standing in the middle of the inside lane.Mr Ward said he did not recall him trying to get out of the way of the van.Mr Smith's brother, Neil Birdsall, said Mr Smith had suffered depression and from mental health problems for some time. He said his brother was upset at not being able to see children from an estranged relationship and displayed signs of "unusual behaviour". He had been prescribed medication.Deputy North Durham coroner Brenda Davidson said, given Mr Smith's recent history and the fact he appeared to take no action to avoid the van: "It's reasonable to think he intended self-harm."She returned a verdict of suicide.