Delivery driver who died on the way to shift ‘didn’t want to let anyone down’

A ‘much-loved’ grandfather died in a collision on the way to work after picking up an extra shift because he ‘didn’t want to let anyone down’, an inquest has heard.

Asda delivery driver Marc Thomas, 50, died in the one-vehicle collision in Bishop Auckland on September 9.

Shortly before 8 am, his Ford Fiesta left the road and came to a stop in a bush, County Durham and Darlington Coroner’s Court heard.

Marc passed away at the scene of the collision after losing control of the car, with a witness who was travelling northbound at the time recalling his car appeared to be ‘swerving and was on two wheels, going side to side as if the driver was trying to gain control’.

His daughter Rebecca said: ‘On the day of his passing he had received a phone call to see if he could pick up an extra shift at Asda as a delivery driver – a job he had recently got and was really proud of.

‘He agreed and was on his way and he didn’t want to let anyone down.’

Assistant Coroner Dr Leslie Hamilton concluded that Marc died after his car ‘travelled over a crest in the carriageway into the right-hand bend at speed.’

He added: ‘In doing so, he lost control of his vehicle which moved onto the offside lane and, trying to turn back to his own lane, his vehicle rotated into the carriageway to the nearside.’

The court heard road conditions at the time may have made the level of grip on the road lesser than normal.

Rebecca said her dad was ‘loved and cherished by many people near and far’, and enjoyed spending time with his family and playing PlayStation in his spare time.

‘Dad was forever an optimist,’ she said. ‘Ever since being a young boy he was happy spending time with the family, especially gran and grandad.

‘His life was very chaotic but he made a hellish sense of humour and gained various life-long friends through this. He could make light of any situation to ensure you had a smile on your face.’

His family said he will be remembered as a ‘much-loved husband, father, son, brother and grandad’.

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