A TRAIN driver who left messages to his friends before drinking and crashing his car died as a result of suicide, a coroner has ruled.

Bolton Coroners Court heard how Paul Rostron died after travelling at speed and crashing on Smithills Dean Road on November 24.

In the hours before his death the 34-year-old had been to see his father and came out as gay to him.

The court heard how that afternoon he left voice messages with a friend on the phone, saying that he was going to take his life by crashing his car.

Close friend Andrew McHugh said: “We were very good friends, almost like family. He rang me on November 24 and he seemed to be in quite good spirits, he’d been on a dinner date the night before which went well, and he was relieved his father had accepted him.”

Later Mr McHugh received voice messages on WhatsApp, which revealed Mr Rostron intended to take his own life by crashing his car, and he had tried to end his life earlier that day.

Mr McHugh tried to talk him out of it, but Mr Rostron hung up and would not answer any further calls.

Mr Rostron, who lived in Astley Bridge, had tried to gain his pilot’s licence when he was younger but failed to do so and the court heard how this was something which affected him, along with his mother’s death in 2019.

His Transpennine Express colleague Jason Parkinson told the court Mr Rostron was awaiting a medical and had been off work for a week.

On November 24 Mr Rostron had messaged Mr Parkinson saying his medical was the next day, and he was having a few glasses of wine with lunch.

Mr Parkinson said: “Paul did enjoy a drink but he wasn’t dependent on alcohol and he was very strict - he knew if he was driving he wouldn’t drink at all. But when it was his time off he enjoyed it.”

Dr Patrick Waugh told that court the medical cause of death was multiple injuries due to the crash.

A toxicology report showed Mr Rostron had an alcohol level of 240mg per 100ml of blood – three times the drink drive limit.

Police reports revealed the Mercedes Mr Rostron was driving along Smithills Dean Road - a 30mph road - and reached a speed of 120mph. The car veered on the bend and crashed into a tree which snapped in two before colliding with a van.

Collision investigation officer Sgt Pye said: “The airbags were all deployed but they would not have made any difference.

“Once the car lost control there was nothing the driver could do about it at this speed.”

Assistant coroner for Manchester West Stephen Teasdale gave his conclusion of suicide.

He said: “He had tried to end his life earlier that day and he had told his friends of his intentions.

“This takes into account the amount of alcohol consumed and his history of depression, along with the messages that he had left with his friends prior to his death and the manner in which he drove down the hill with no intention of breaking.

“He was tying up loose ends and had been drinking during the day. I pass on my condolences to his family, in particular to his father.”

 

Samaritans is available round the clock, every single day of the year, providing a safe place to talk for anyone who is struggling to cope.

Call 116 123 (this number is free to call and will not appear on your phone bill), 01204 521200 or email jo@samaritans.org