Inquest finds police pursuit contributed to crash deaths

The mother of Ryan Duffy spoke out after the inquest into her son's death. Ryan, 24, and his girlfriend Ellie Marsden, 20, lost their lives in a crash in Cumbria on September 5, 2021. They were on holiday when their van was followed by police. After leaving a pub, Ryan drove the van in the direction of a hotel. Officer Craig Stevenson followed him. The inquest revealed that Ryan drove the wrong way down a one-way street. Officer Stevenson attempted to stop the van but pushed the speed limit to catch up. At one point, he lost sight of it. The van eventually crashed into a tree on a country lane. The inquest jury found that several factors contributed to the deaths. These included Ryan being over the legal alcohol limit and not wearing a seat belt. They concluded that the officer's pursuit of the van also played a significant role in the crash. Ryan's mother, Karen, shared her sorrow, saying, "There are no winners in this situation." She hopes lessons can be learned to prevent other families from experiencing similar loss. Ellie’s mother, Kelly, echoed these sentiments, noting that she fought for answers for the past three and a half years. Both families wish for important changes to ensure safety in the future.