By ‘Devoted’ mum died in collision on M180 returning home to Grimsby
An inquest into the tragic death of a mum-of-two from Grimsby who was killed during a crash on the M180 near Scunthorpe has opened.
Assistant coroner for North East Lincolnshire, Marianne Johnson formally opened proceedings into her death.
Rachael Smith, 39, of Lord Street, died from burns sustained in the single-vehicle crash on the M180 on May 14, the inquest at Cleethorpes Town Hall heard.
She said Rachael, was returning home on the eastbound carriageway of the M180 near Junction 4 near Scunthorpe, on her way to Grimsby. The friend was driving the Ford Focus when the collision occurred. Emergency services attended the crash around 9.15 pm.
The assistant coroner confirmed that Rachael’s cause of death was burning following the collision. The hearing was adjourned to a provisional date in January next year. Rachael is the mother of Jayden and Kadie.
Following the tragedy, Rachael’s mother Pam Smith of Macaulay Street, Grimsby said: “She was a wonderful daughter and mother.
“She worked hard and loved all her family. She worked since she was 14 years old. We both worked together sometimes cleaning for various people. She worked for Lady Clean, Somerfield’s when it was on the go, Costa Coffee, Thorntons, and Index. She loved going out with her sister and brother.”
At the time of her tragic death, her brother Karl Smith, praised the rescuers at the scene attending to his sister from the front passenger seat, after the car collided with a tree before catching fire.
He said: “We are all shocked and devastated by what happened. The men who stopped did their best, while other cars were just speeding past.
“She was such a loving mother and devoted to all her family”
(Image: Karl Smith)
