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A millionaire Aviva boss killed when his £160,000 Aston Martin careered into a tree died from 'multiple traumatic injuries', an inquest opening has heard. Former chief executive David Barral, 63, had been driving a grey DBX SUV when it left an A-road near Wetherby, West Yorkshire, on October 14. The father-of-three was the sole occupant in the luxury car, which exploded in a fireball when it hit the tree, bringing it crashing to the ground. An inquest into his death was this morning opened and adjourned by West Yorkshire area coroner Oliver Longstaff. Mr Longstaff told how a pathologist who carried out an autopsy on Mr Barrel provisionally concluded that he died from 'multiple traumatic injuries'. Mr Barral, described at the short hearing as 'an executive chairman of a financial services business', was identified by a police officer who found his driving licence at the scene of the crash. Mr Longstaff said: 'Sadly, Mr Barrel 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 Barrel 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.' Police are continuing to investigate the death of Mr Barral, who held leadership roles at Aviva Life and Pensions between 1999 and 2015, and was made UK and Ireland chief executive in 2011. The Daily Mail understands that minutes before the tragedy, the businessman had visited a Post Office a short distance from his family's £1.2million home in affluent Scarcroft, near Leeds. There, he had returned two boxes of designer Louis Vuitton boots bought for his wife Angela where a shopkeeper described him as appearing 'upset' and 'very fragile'. Mr Barral, whose 30-year career included non-executive chairman roles at Virgin Wines and investment platform Embark Group, arrived at the Post Office at around 1.40pm and left around 10 minutes later. Police were called to the crash, on the A58 Leeds Road between the villages of Bardsey and Collingham, shortly after 2pm. The inquest was suspended for six months to allow police to continue their investigations into the circumstances of the tragedy. Mr Longstaff said that 'forensic collision investigation' and 'major collision inquiry team work' remained ongoing. He added: 'There is no third party being investigated as having caused or contributed the incident in which Mr Barrel died.' Speaking to the Daily Mail earlier this month, shopkeeper Shazia Tariq described Mr Barral as appearing 'lost in thought'. She was one of the final people to see him when he visited her Post Office in Shadwell, Leeds. Mrs Tariq said: 'He was such a nice man and I've known him for many years. 'But that day he was very upset about something. He made conversation about returning these parcels. It was something that appeared to upset him. 'He emphasised how expensive they were. For a man who drives an Aston Martin, I was surprised by that. '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.' The shopkeeper said she learned shortly after of Mr Barral's death and was subsequently contacted by police officers. She added: 'I remember he was wearing jeans and a light blue blazer. He looked up at the ceiling and he was deep in thought. 'He was in a different place. He wasn't in a happy place, I know that.' Mr Barral's family paid tribute in a statement released through police, which read: 'We are all absolutely devastated at the loss of the most wonderful man. 'Rest in peace David we will all miss you so, so much and you will always fill our hearts. We love you.' A spokesman for Aviva 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.' The businessman was most recently a strategic adviser at investment group Harwood Capital. In previous interviews, he told of his career in the insurance industry - including as a door-to-door salesman with Abbey Life. He said: 'Abbey was a really tough job, I was only 18 and I was probably too young to sustain it. 'I did get my wife's engagement ring with my third month's salary, though.' He went on to work for Guardian Royal Exchange as a claim negotiator then ran brokers Andrew Yule Insurance for three years where he walked the streets at lunchtime looking for trade. Mr Barral, born in East Kilbride in Scotland, said previously that 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'.
