Audi driver died after overtaking friend and crashing head-on into bus

Tree surgeon Travis Smith, 20, passed away at hospital the morning after his black Audi A3 crashed into a First bus, travelling in the opposite direction, on Godley Lane, Stump Cross, at around 7.35pm on Wednesday, July 7, 2021.

Assistant Coroner Oliver, who came to an accidental road traffic collision conclusion, said Mr Smith misjudged the corner and this was coupled with the bad luck of the bus coming.

Mr Smith's inquest concluded among a 'considerable spread' of family and friends at Bradford Coroners Court today.

A eulogy to Mr Smith was read out in court where his mother Lisa Smith described him as a "charming, kind, and caring" individual who tragically "didn't live long enough to fulfil his dream" of completing an arborist scholarship in New Zealand.

A police witness said the force did consider "competitive driving" when conducting their investigation.

The crash occurred on Godley Lane in Halifax (Image: Google Street View)The court heard how Mr Smith accelerated past his friend, who was driving a Land Rover Discovery, before a bend on Godley Lane.

His Audi "oversteered" and he lost control, sliding into the other side of the road where the vehicle was met with a head-on collision with the bus.

Mr Smith was sadly pronounced dead at Leeds General Infirmary at 5.05am on Thursday, July 8, 2021.

The court was told that a post-mortem showed Mr Smith died of multiple very severe blunt force injuries. 

A report from Fiona Wilson, West Yorkshire Police's Collision Investigator, said the Audi A3 was "travelling faster than other road users".

She also confirmed that no charges were pressed against the Land Rover driver.

Giving evidence in person, DC Deborah Farley told the court that the two friends had been to view another vehicle that evening.

Mr Smith was planning on selling his Audi A3 and purchasing something else.

They went to see the vehicle in the Land Rover and returned to a Brewers Fayre where he returned to his own car.

The pair travelled from there through Halifax and the town's Sainsbury's car park.

DC Farley said she was unable to calculate the Audi's speed and added that the vehicle was in good running order.

Born on February 5, 2001, Mr Smith attended Queensbury's Shibden Head Primary Academy and Beckfoot School during his young life.

Mr Smith also spent some of his childhood out in France where he enjoyed farming and baking.

His mum described him as a "beautiful boy, loving son, brother, grandson, uncle and godfather" who was always "full of energy and had a "zest for life".

Mr Smith's love for sport grew into his adolescence.

He ran for Bingley Harriers and played rugby for Bradford & Bingley and mainly Keighley Albion.

He struggled academically at school and wanted to follow his brother to become an arborist.

After doing various jobs around the district, including a spell at Wilsden Auctioneers, he became a tree surgeon in Cumbria at the age of 18.

His mum also said he was "respected by all in the community", had the "gift of the gab", and was a "true Yorkshire gent".

Coroner Oliver concluded the hour-long inquest by saying he was "moved" by the eulogy.

He was "desperately sorry" to hear of the tragic event and was "massively impressed" by the turnout of around 20 members of Mr Smith's family and friends.

"He sounds like a hell of a guy," Coroner Oliver added.

At the time, Detective Sergeant Fiona Allan, of the Major Collision and Enquiry Team, said: “This has been a dreadful incident in which a young man has lost his life and specialist officers have been working with his family to support them."