A couple were killed instantly when their car veered across three lanes of the M6 near Preston and crashed into a tree, an inquest has heard.
University of Liverpool lecturer Moeez Subhani, 33, and his wife Dr Aimen Rafiq, 27, were travelling northbound on the motorway between junctions 32, for the M55, and 33, for Lancaster, when the crash happened at just after 3pm on Thursday, August 12 last year.
The couple, who were both born in Pakistan and lived in Derby, were both wearing seat belts, LancsLive reports.
Horrified motorists pulled over to help but the couple's injuries were extremely serious.
Advanced paramedic David Quirk noted "no signs of life" when he arrived at the scene and later said their injuries were "not compatible with life".
An inquest at Preston Coroner's Court today (January 10) heard that the couple had been travelling north towards Scotland when the crash happened.
The weather was fine and visibility was good.
Motorist Charles Barton was in the first lane on the M6 when he saw the couple's Mazda pass "close to his car" just before a works exit.
"He suddenly became aware of a car passing close to the door, the vehicle began to skid in front of him, turning so the passenger door was facing him," Area Coroner Chris Long said reading from a statement.
"The car accelerated towards the works exit and he thought it had continued down the road to the works exit.
"He continued his journey home but having been shaken up by what had happened he checked his dash cam footage and he realised the vehicle had gone into the trees."
A number of other eye-witnesses also came forward including some who stopped at the scene after seeing the crash.
James Lupton, who was also travelling northbound, told police that the Mazda "suddenly and for no reason picked up speed and came across the motorway".
Mr Lupton saw the car "hit the kerb which sent it into the air" but when he pulled over to "check the occupants... he believed there was nothing more that he could do".
PC Barry Moore, who has worked for Lancashire Police's collision investigation unit for 13 years, said there were no defects with the Mazda or the carriageway.
He concluded the Mr Subhani had attempted to correct a sudden change in steering but this resulted in the car losing control a second time.
"At the point the car loses control it is unlikely the driver would have been able to recover," PC Moore said.
"By the point [of the second loss of control] there is not much the driver could have done."
Concluding the couple died as a result of a road traffic collision the coroner said: "For unknown reasons the evidence supports the theory that the vehicle was either steered suddenly or harshly which then led to a loss of control of the vehicle."
Chris Kypridemos, a senior lecturer at the university's Public Health, Policy and Systems department where Mr Subhani had worked since January 2021, said after the couple died: "Moeez was an intelligent, capable, diligent and valuable colleague. But above all, he was a warm, kind and gentle soul.
"His love for data science and his enthusiasm to further use and develop his skills in improving health through research were embodied in his diligent work and his interactions with the team, despite the challenges imposed by joining a new post in a new group and university during the pandemic.
"Moeez will be greatly missed, and his death saddens everyone in our department. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and his family and friends during this difficult time."
