MYSTERY still surrounds an accident in which a lorry driver died when his vehicle overturned.

David Thomas Walsh, of Hapton, died when his 40-tonne lorry overturned on the Skipton bypass near its junction with Knaresborough Road.

A Skipton inquest heard how Mr Walsh was driving a cement tanker in the early hours of March 28 when the accident happened.

But police investigators are at a loss to discover what actually caused the accident.

"It's just a tragic mystery," said coroner Jeremy Cave, who recorded an accidental death verdict.

The inquest was told how Mr Walsh had been seen just 15 minutes before the accident when he called in a petrol station in Ilkley.

Station attendant Michael Watson said he seemed "quite normal" and showed no signs of tiredness.

In his report, police accident investigator PC Tim Alderson said the lorry had been in good working order and dismissed any suggestion that Mr Walsh may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

He concluded that he may have braked heavily or swerved to avoid an animal on the road.