Couple on UK staycation found dead in a ditch hours after their van was followed by police, inquest hears
Care assistant Ellie hopped into a white Citroen Berlingo van, driven by her partner, away from the pub in Ashton-in-Makerfield.
Ellie Marsden, 20, and 24-year-old Ryan Duffy, both from Wigan, were found dead in Cumbria on September 4, 2021.
A police officer in the area decided to tail the van, which appeared to go the wrong way down a one-way street.
Assistant coroner Joseph Hart told the jury: "The officer followed the van on to rural roads around Appleby.
"At times he seems to have lost sight of the van.
"You will hear about how the officer followed that vehicle on those rural roads, but at this stage you should be aware the officer didn’t illuminate his emergency blue lights.
"After a distance the officer ceased to follow that vehicle, and he thought the driver might in fact have been aware of his presence."
The cop reported his sightings and retuned to Appleby, pulling over a similar van that proved not to be the Citroen he was following before.
At 7.40am same say a couple travelling along the narrow single carriageway C3057 road came across a crashed van.
Tragically inside the van were the bodies of Ellie and Ryan.
The vehicle was severely damaged and there were skid marks on the road leading to a big tree.
A YOUNG couple were tragically found dead in a ditch while on a UK staycation hours after their van was followed by police, an inquest heard.
The pair were staying at Appleby Castle Hotel, Appleby-in-Westmorland and were checked in at around 10pm by James Usher - the duty manager.
In a statement today, James read: "The man [Ryan] said something along the lines of ‘I just want to make her happy with a night away."
"Both were friendly. They seemed in good spirits."
The pair went to Appleby's Hare and Hounds pub, the inquest was told, where they stayed until half past midnight.
