Talented cricketer suffocated when car drove over him in alleyway during a night out, inquest hears

A talented sportsman died of asphyxiation when a car ran over him in a dark alley during a night out, an inquest heard.

Cricketer Jake Neary, 31, from Helmshore, Lancashire, was lying in the alley smoking a cigarette when he was hit by an Audi A5 in Rawtenstall in July.

The driver of the car, identified as Mr Bailey during the hearing, was looking for a parking space before meeting a friend at a nearby bar.

Unable to find a spot, he drove his white Audi into the alley and could not see Mr Neary lying in the road due to poor lighting, the inquest heard.

Preston Coroners Court was told that when he put his car in reverse it didn’t move and he heard Mr Neary shouting: ‘Help me.’

After trying in vain to lift the car, he ran to get help while calling the emergency services.

A statement from Mr Bailey said: ‘I had good visibility, no distractions and nothing in the wing mirror.

‘I have owned the car for four years, I was rested and alert and had not been drinking.

An autopsy found that Mr Neary died as a result of positional asphyxia, a lack of oxygen caused by the position he was restrained in

‘Later I got the news that he had passed away. I’m still shocked and I will never forget this.’

Mr Bailey did not attend the inquest as a courtesy to Mr Neary’s family as he did not want to cause unnecessary distress, it was heard.

PC Rachel Carberry told the inquest that there were two street lights at either end of the 50-metre road, but there was no lighting where the incident took place.

She told the hearing that the vehicle had moved up and down, but there was no evidence that the car was moving back and forth.

PC Carberry said: ‘There are no defects or faults with the vehicle that could have contributed to the collision.

‘The camera images show it [the driver] lasted four seconds, which would indicate a very slow maneuver.

‘The alley is quite narrow and it can be difficult to turn at any speed.

‘Mr Neary was placed with his feet towards Parramatta Street and his head away, meaning the driver could only see his feet.

‘The driver had difficulty recognizing that something was there. When it comes to recognition, drivers need contrast.

‘A dark object on a dark background is very difficult to spot, and something low in the road is difficult to spot and a lack of movement can cause problems seeing the hazard.’

Mr Neary, a barrister, was described as ‘a true gentleman who lit up a room with his humor and personality’

A post-mortem examination revealed that he died due to positional asphyxia, a lack of oxygen caused by the position in which he was trapped. No injury to his organs was found.

Coroner Kate Bisset concluded that Mr Neary died as a result of a road traffic accident. She said: ‘It is not clear why he lay down in the road and either way it is tragic.’

In a moving tribute, his family said sport meant ‘everything to him’ and that he particularly loved golf and cricket.

Mr Neary, a barrister, was described as ‘a true gentleman who lit up a room with his humor and personality’.

A statement from his family, read by the coroner, said: ‘James was kind, sensitive and naturally gifted in sport. He always took the time to talk to others.”

Cards and letters left as tributes at the site of his death describe him as “witty, charismatic and someone who lit up the room with his unforgettable personality.”

Eight statements were made by friends of Mr Neary, with one describing him as ‘a true legend, he was truly my best friend and one of a kind’.

Another said: ‘There isn’t enough paper in the world to pay a fitting tribute to him.

‘He left everyone he met with a smile. He was the sweetest kid with a great bowling arm and smile.”

Mr Neary studied law at Manchester Metropolitan University and joined Preston-based law firm Harrison Drury last December.

The company paid tribute after his death, saying: ‘Jake was not only a valued member of the Harrison Drury team, but also a great friend to many of us.

“We will miss Jake more than words can express.

“Jake was a talented lawyer who was highly respected and valued, especially in Clitheroe, where our team is ready to support anyone who needs help at this difficult time.”