A NINETY-year-old driver died after crashing into a car near Skipton Golf Club last year, an inquest heard.

Edward Deeley, from London, had driven to Newfield Hall, between Gargrave and Malham, for a holiday on August 13 but was unwell and set off driving home on the morning of August 16.

The inquest heard that Mr Deeley, who had a heart condition, was travelling along the A65 Skipton northern bypass when his Mazda car veered over to the opposite side of the road, crashing into a BMW car being driven in the opposite direction by Frank Fletcher, from Silsden.

Mr Deeley was pronounced dead at the scene at 10.22am. A post-mortem examination revealed he had suffered multiple injuries.

Mr Fletcher’s wife, Stephanie, had to be cut free from the BMW and had sustained spinal fractures. She was suffering from pancreatic cancer at the time and the accident meant she was not able to continue her chemotherapy treatment. She died from her cancer as a result.

Mr Fletcher said he felt his wife’s demise had been hastened because she could not continue her chemotherapy.

Coroner Rob Turnbull recorded a verdict that Mr Deeley had died as a result of a road traffic collision.