Traveller died from chest injuries after Mercedes crash in high-speed police chase, inquest hears

A traveller died from chest injuries after his Mercedes crashed during a high-speed police chase, an inquest has heard.  

Patrick 'Paddy' Connors, 36, had been drinking after attending a funeral of a relative when he got into a car with Thomas 'Tommy' Sharp, 29, jurors were told at Bolton Town Hall.

Both men later died from chest injuries after the Mercedes C200 they were in crashed into two other vehicles during a high-speed chase with a police car.

Coroner Timothy Brennand said Tommy was behind the wheel of the powerful car as it travelled through Salford, Greater Manchester, on the evening of September 23, 2020.

But when a marked police car began to follow the pair, the Mercedes reached speeds of 87mph and was seen driving on both sides of the road, before crashing.

He said: 'It would seem that the Mercedes appeared to attempt to steer or avert what then was self-evidently a high-speed impact.'

Paddy was pronounced dead at 12.48am, while Tommy died at 12.56am, following the collision with two Volkswagen Passat cars.

Speaking at the inquest, Paddy's wife Margaret said the 'fun-loving' dad had gone to a funeral and wake in Wigan on September 23, 2020, before heading to a pub.

She did not know when Paddy met Tommy but said it may have been at the wake.

Margaret added: 'He had friends everywhere, from one end of the travelling community to the next.

'He was very close to his family, very close to his cousins and friends and relations.'

The court also heard how Tommy came from a large family and was the youngest of 10 children. He lived on a caravan park in Salford and worked as a builder.

He had been married to his wife Alicia for nine years and they had a son and a daughter. She said he 'doted' on their children and he 'loved life'.

Mrs Sharp said she last spoke to her husband at around 11pm that night, asking him to return home, but he did not tell he where he was or what his plans were.

Following their deaths, large crowds gathered for the funeral.

A horse-drawn carriage led a cortege that saw silver Rolls-Royces and colourful supercars follow crowds of mourners to Paddy's funeral.

The jury inquest, which is expected to last for 10 days, continues.