A HARD-WORKING father of three’s death was accidental, an inquest concluded last week.

Forestry worker Kevin Capstick (37) died from multiple injuries after his car collided with a van shortly after 7am on February 15, on the A69 near Haydon Bridge.

Mr Capstick was driving from his home in Kiln Pit Hill to work in Edinburgh when his Suzuki Jimny turned into the path of an oncoming Ford Transit travelling east bound.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, alongside his beloved black labrador, George.

The inquest heard that there was no evidence of drugs or alcohol in Mr Capstick’s system.

The accident happened just two days before the first birthday of his youngest daughter, Francesca.

He was also father to nine-year-old twins Katie and Lily.

PC Steven Goode, from Northumbria Police, gave details of the witness statements, including that of Stephen Greig, the driver of the Ford Transit involved in the collision.

Mr Greig was travelling to Cramlington from his home in Glasgow and said he was driving at round 50mph on a single carriageway section of the A69.

He recalled a set of headlights suddenly coming in front of him from the other side of the road.

Witnesses said neither the Ford Transit or Suzuki Jimny were driving in an unusual way.

One witness said the Suzuki turned right as if turning at a junction, but there wasn’t one there.

Witnesses said it happened so quickly that the driver of the van had no time to react or stop to avoid the collision.

PC Alastair Graves of Northumbria Police conducted a collision investigation and presented the reults at the inquest.

His examination found that although the road had been gritted, there were patches of snow and slush on the road.

Senior coroner Eric Armstrong recorded a verdict of accidental death at the inquest held in North Shields last Thursday.

Mr Armstrong said: “There is no evidence that either were driving excessively fast, so road surface must be a factor.

“It is clear from photos that there was slush on the road.

“If the car slipped sideways it was horrendous timing. There is no evidence this was deliberate and I record a conclusion of accidental death.”