Farmer killed in crash on A66 near Barnard Castle

Oct 31 2009 by Sophie Doughty, The Journal

AN elderly farmer has died after being thrown from the cab of his tractor in a dramatic pile-up on one of the region’s most dangerous roads.

Tributes were last night paid to Raymond Handley, who died when he was thrown from his tractor on the A66 near Barnard Castle, County Durham, on Thursday night.

A 49-year-old sports car driver who was arrested shortly afterwards on suspicion of drink-driving and causing death by dangerous driving has been questioned by police.

Last night members of the Teesdale farming community said Mr Handley was a traditional country gentleman who will be a great loss to the farming community.

The 71-year-old from Bowes suffered serious head injuries in the four-vehicle smash, which happened at around 5.30pm.

The farmer was driving his tractor westbound on the A66, around half-a-mile west of the junction with Boldron, when it was struck by a black Jaguar sports car travelling in the same direction, which collided with its offside rear wheel.

This forced the tractor off the road and Mr Handley was thrown from his seat through the back window and on to the carriageway.

The Jaguar then spun into the outside lane and further collisions took place involving a Ford Focus and an Audi A4 car, which were also heading west. The Focus caught fire but both the driver and passenger were helped from their car by a passing motorist who stopped to help. Mr Handley suffered serious head injuries and was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital, where he later died.

A 49-year-old man from Glasgow, who was driving the Jaguar, suffered minor injuries. He was also taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital, but after receiving treatment he was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and for drink-driving. He was questioned and released on bail.

The only passenger in the Jaguar was the driver’s 19-year-old son, who was uninjured.

The occupants of the Ford Focus were a 72-year-old man and his 68-year-old wife from Kirkby Stephen, in Cumbria. Both received minor injuries and were treated at Darlington Memorial Hospital. The Audi driver, a 25-year-old man from Grimsby, was not injured and was able to continue with his journey.

Mr Handley lived with his elderly sister in the village of Bowes, close to the A66. He had spent his whole life working as a hill-farmer rearing cattle and sheep on the dales.

Last night fellow-farmer Peter Stubbs of Brown Jug Farm, in Kinninvie, near Barnard Castle, paid tribute to his friend.

“I knew Raymond really well,” he said. “He was a really down to earth farmer with great farming values.

“You couldn’t wish to meet a nicer bloke. He would never say a wrong word about anyone. He will be a real loss to the farming community.”

A spokesman for Durham Police said: “Police are now appealing for witnesses, in particular anyone who was on the A66 at that time.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Durham Police’s accident investigation unit on (0191) 375-2159.