A MAN attending a wedding at Broughton Hall, near Skipton, was accidentally killed after being struck by a car on the A59, an inquest heard.

Luke Saxton, 29, from Keighley, had been seen on CCTV at around 11pm walking from Broughton Hall to the back of the Bull public house and then across the front car park to the A59.

The inquest at Skipton Magistrates Court heard that Mr Saxton appeared to be in drink and was seen to head along the road in the direction of Barnoldswick on June 23 this year.

Witness Christopher Waterworth waiting in the pub car park said he saw a man in dark clothing walking to the road before hearing a loud bang.

“He appeared to be in drink by the way he was walking,” he said.

Mr Saxton was hit by Nathan Pratt, of Barnoldswick, who was returning with his partner and two small children from a visit to family in Keighley.

Mr Pratt said he was driving his Vauxhall Corsa along the A65 at 50 or 60 mph when Mr Saxton appeared in the carriageway.

“I saw something flash in the headlights and hit the brakes but it was too late and there was an impact,” Mr Pratt explained.

A breathalyser test was conducted on the driver and was returned as a zero alcohol reading. The Corsa was examined and no defects were found.

A post-mortem examination was carried out on Mr Saxton and he was found to have 206 mgs of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. The driving limit is 80 mg.

The examination also showed he had suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene at 11.56pm.

His brother, Gavin, who was also at the wedding event said his brother was not a driver and may not have appreciated it was a major road, despite the fact there was only light traffic.

Coroner Rob Turnbull recorded a verdict that “Mr Saxton died as a result of an accident.”

He also said he would write to the local authority to point out concerns raised by witnesses that there is no lighting on that stretch of the road near the pub, nor at the nearby bus stop close to where the collision occurred.