THE family of a Follifoot couple who died when their car crashed near the village will never know the real reason for their death, an inquest heard last week.
Christopher John Pattimore, 53, and his wife Julia Karen, 48, were killed when their car overturned and crashed into a ditch on Plompton Road last July, a short distance from their home.
Returning a narrative verdict Coroner Rob Turnbull said it w
as "particularly tragic" especially as the accident occurred on Julia's birthday.
Harrogate Coroner's Court heard how the couple had enjoyed a meal at the Crab & Lobster restaurant on July 21 in Thirsk before travelling back to meet friends at the village pub in Follifoot.
Mr Pattimore was behind the wheel when the incident happened. His black Porsche was approaching Follifoot from the A661 Wetherby Road when he lost control and crashed into a lay-by which was used to store gravel.
Emergency services were called to the crash at 9.55pm but the couple was pronounced dead at the scene.
After hearing evidence from Traffic Constable Paul Davenport, of North Yorkshire Police, Mr Turnbull concluded that it was not possible to estimate how fast the vehicle was travelling at the time of the crash.
He added: "It was particularly tragic. We will never know precisely what caused the accident.
"Travelling back to their home address the couple lost control on a road known as Plompton Road. It was a road Mr Pattimore was very familiar with. When the Porsche approached the crest of the road the vehicle appears to have gone out of control."
The court heard a toxicology report showed there to be 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of Mr Pattimore's blood.
TC Davenport told the court Mr Pattimore was not over the drink drive limit but the alcohol could have affected his driving at the time of the crash.
He said that after thorough investigation there was nothing to suggest Mr Pattimore hit something in the road and, despite the crash happening close to a gravel storage area, there was no evidence of debris.
"There was no other physical evidence that any other vehicle was involved," he added.
"There had been no eye witnesses to this crash. It was dark at the time of the crash, the road was unlit."
Mr Pattimore, a project manager for a building firm, was a keen sportsman. He played cricket for Follifoot's third team and was a popular member of the club. He also played snooker and billiards, and was a member of a local shoot.
Mrs Pattimore had enjoyed village life, and would meet other women in Follifoot for a meal every Tuesday. The couple leave a son, Andrew, and daughter Claire.
Close family friend Paul Townsend from Follifoot paid tribute to couple.
"They are still missed by everyone in the village. Chris was a lovely, generous man, and he is sorely missed, as is Julia," he said.
"They had only been in the village a short time, but they had made themselves a part of the community.
