The mother of a woman who died in a van crash alongside her drink-driving boyfriend following a police pursuit has spoken about her ‘daily pain’ following the loss of her daughter.
Ellie Marsden, 20, and her boyfriend Ryan Duffy, 24, were found dead hours after their vehicle had left the road and collided with a tree near Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria on September 5, 2021.
An inquest yesterday found that the spontaneous pursuit by PC Craig Stevenson contributed to the fatal crash.
Jurors found Mr Duffy – who was driving the couple’s Citroen Berlingo van – was likely to have become aware he was being pursued and may have driven accordingly.
A post mortem examination found he was between two and three times the legal drink-drive limit, and cocaine and ketamine were also in his system.
In a statement seen by the Manchester Evening News, Kelly Kennedy, Ellie’s mum, said: ‘The daily pain we have had to endure ever since losing our beautiful daughter Ellie is crippling. No parent should have to go through losing a child and especially in such horrific circumstances.
‘Ellie is and was the most loving, kind and caring daughter, who had her whole life ahead of her. She was more than just a daughter, she was my best friend and the best friend of her heartbroken sister Chloe. Our lives are completely shattered without her here in our arms and we will ache for her for the rest of our lives.
‘Ellie, I love and miss you more than life, and me, your dad, your family and friends will ache for you for all eternity.’
Ellie Marsden, 20, was described as the ‘most loving, kind and caring daughter, who had her whole life ahead of her’
She was killed in a crash alongside her partner after their car was followed by police in 2021
Ms Kennedy thanked the Coroner and the inquest jury for their detailed approach.
She said the conclusions reached by the jury – that the officer’s pursuit of Ryan was a significant factor in the couple’s deaths – had vindicated the family’s fight for justice.
The couple, of Golborne, near Wigan, Greater Manchester, had driven up to Cumbria on September 4, 2021, for a short break.
They had booked in for a night at Appleby’s historic castle hotel – with Mr Duffy telling the duty manager: ‘I just want to make her happy with a night away’.
The couple visited the nearby town centre Hare and Hounds pub for two hours. At around 12-30am, CCTV footage captured them leaving the premises and returning to the Citroen Berlingo, which drove on to a main town road heading towards the castle.
Their presence was also noted by PC Stevenson, a standard response officer on patrol who decided to follow and monitor the van’s movements.
He watched as the driver went the wrong way along a one-way street.
PC Stevenson continued following, seeking to stop the van and speak with the driver.
Ryan Duffy, 24, (pictured) suffered from head injuries – and also died at the scene
His own Ford Transit vehicle data showed he repeatedly travelled above the speed limit both in Appleby and then out on to rural country roads as he attempted, unsuccessfully, to catch up with the Berlingo.
Both vehicles turned on to a country lane known as Long Rigg. At that stage, PC Stevenson lost sight of the van. He stopped and sent a radio message to his control room. He was a mere 170 metres from where the crashed Berlingo was later found at 7.30am the following morning.
‘Just had a vehicle make off from me on the back roads from Appleby,’ the officer reported, before turning around.
The inquest heard PC Stevenson never managed to log the registration number of the Berlingo nor the vehicle’s make during a four-minute journey.
He told jurors the opportunity to activate blue lights to attempt a safe stoppage did not arise.
Ms Marsden’s parents previously told how the 20-year-old’s teachers at All Saints Primary School and Golborne High School described her as a ‘lovely girl’ who ‘gave her all’ and was ‘a pleasure to teach’.
They said: ‘I don’t recall one bad word ever being said about her, she never brought any troubles to the door and never caused anyone any harm.’
After leaving school, Ms Marsden worked as a care assistant at Golborne Day Centre where she completed her health and social care apprenticeship and also won the newcomer of the year award.
They said their daughter loved her boyfriend Ryan and the pair shared ‘so many loving and fun times’.
