Birkenhead man’s tragic motorway death phone call

Dec 9 2009 by Kevin Core, Birkenhead News

She told him to come to the house, but he said he did not have the petrol.

Miss Heygarth was visibly distressed and Wirral Coroner Christopher Johnson read her statement saying: “He said I’m doing 90mph, she was in a state of panic, worried he was going to do something stupid.

“She could hear the sound of the engine running and he said ‘This looks like a good spot’.

“He said ‘stay on the phone, I want you with me when I go. I love you and the kids, here we go’.”

She then heard a loud noise and the line was lost.

Horrified, she phoned Mr Barrow’s mum who drove to the scene herself, finding his wrecked silver Vauxhall Corsa on the motorway.

Tests revealed he was not under the influence of any drugs or over the drink driving limit when he died.

Coroner Christopher Johnson recorded a short narrative verdict, that he died when the car he was driving collided with the central reservation barrier at the M53 at Woodchurch.

Outside the court, Mr Barrow’s aunt, Lain Lally, said: “He had so many friends and was so happy-go lucky.

“He was a very proud man and the bankruptcy and loss of his business hit him very hard, but Michael idolised his children and loved Lola.”