Tributes to 'kind and loving' Chesterfield couple who died in tragic Peak District crash

Angie Briggs, 56, and her partner Steven Wright, 54, both of Valley Road, Chesterfield, died in a collision on the A623 near Tideswell on Sunday, December 1.

The couple were returning to Chesterfield after a night away in Liverpool, an inquest was told today (Thursday, February 27).

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Angie’s son Dale paid tribute to his mum after the hearing and described her as ‘a kind and loving person who was liked and loved by all who knew her’.

Dale said: “Born and raised in Chesterfield, she enjoyed spending time with her grandkids and going places with her partner.

“She was adventurous and outgoing and since meeting Steven she was the happiest she had been.

“She is missed by everyone who was lucky enough to know her and is now at peace laid next to her mum.”

The inquest heard dash-cam footage from another vehicle showed an unexplained ‘eight second delay’ in braking by Mr Wright caused him to apply the brakes in his Peugeot 208 suddenly as he approached a line of traffic close to the turning for Waterhole Farm.

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Detective Sergeant Darren Muggleton told the inquest: “There are no brake lights shown on the Peugeot for eight seconds after they appear on vehicles in front of it. The vehicle then brakes and steers heavily to the right.

“The driver of the Peugeot had reacted to what was happening in front but when it was too late.”

DS Muggleton added: “The Peugeot rotated around by 90 degrees and has gone onto the opposite side of the road. Unfortunately, at that exact moment another vehicle, a Toyota Rav4, was traveling in the opposite direction and has had no time to avoid the collision.”

The inquest, held at Chesterfield Town Hall, heard there were no defects on either vehicle, visibility was good and there was no mud on the road.

Derbyshire coroner Peter Nieto said a toxicology report also showed there were no substances in Mr Wright’s body.

The coroner offered his condolences to the families and recorded a verdict that both died as a result of a road traffic collision.