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A millionaire Aviva boss died after his Aston Martin veered off a country lane and smashed into a tree, an inquest has heard. Ex-chief executive David Barral, 63, was driving a grey DBX SUV when it left an A-road close to Wetherby, West Yorkshire, on October 14. The dad-of-three was the only person in the car, which erupted into a fireball when he hit a tree. An inquest into Barral's death was was opened and then adjourned by West Yorkshire area coroner Oliver Longstaff. Mr Longstaff said a pathologist who carried out an autopsy on Mr Barral provisionally concluded he died from "multiple traumatic injuries." He said: "Sadly, Mr Barral was pronounced deceased on October 14, 2025, at a location on the A58 Leeds Road in Bardsey. His death was certified at 2:32pm by attending paramedic Matthew McCabe and formal identification of Mr Barral was achieved by consideration of his driving licence at the scene and the circumstances at the scene." The coroner added: "David Barclay was pronounced deceased... when the vehicle he was driving left the road to its near side and collided with a large tree. Clearly a death occurring in those circumstances of the death likely to be shown in due course not to be natural and hence the death is required to be investigated by way of inquest." The inquest was suspended for six months to allow police to continue investigations into the crash. Mr Longstaff said work remained ongoing at the site. He continued: "There is no third party being investigated as having caused or contributed the incident in which Mr Barral died." Shopkeeper Shazia Tariq, who was one of the last people to see him when he visited her Post Office in Shadwell, Leeds, described him as a "nice man." She added: "He normally had such positive vibes but I found him very lost that day. He mentioned that the parcels were Louis Vuitton boots and they were very expensive. He bought them for this wife and he just didn't seem happy." A spokesperson for Aviva later said: "We are devastated by the loss of David. His contributions to the company and the broader business world were immeasurable. Our thoughts are with his family during this incredibly difficult time." Mar Barral, originally from East Kilbride, in Scotland , previously said his life ambition was "to be the best that I can and see my children healthy, happy and debt-free. I would also like to catch a Marlin and ride a Harley."
