A tragic accident has claimed the life of a former Aviva executive as his Aston Martin car crashed and caught fire after colliding with a tree near Wetherby in West Yorkshire. David Barral, a respected 63-year-old businessman, was behind the wheel of a grey Aston Martin DBX SUV when the incident occurred on the A58 Leeds Road between Bardsey and Collingham just after 2 pm on Tuesday.

The family of Mr. Barral has expressed profound sorrow over his untimely passing, describing him as a remarkable individual. Authorities are conducting an investigation into the accident and are urging any witnesses with relevant information to come forward.

Following the collision, emergency services were swiftly on the scene, where a fallen tree marked the tragic event. West Yorkshire Police have confirmed the identity of the deceased as David Barral and have shared a tribute from his family. The statement also appeals for anyone who may have witnessed the crash or observed the vehicle’s movements prior to the incident to contact the Major Collision Enquiry Team.

David Barral had a distinguished career at Aviva Life and Pensions, serving in various senior positions from 1999 to 2015 before assuming the role of CEO for the UK and Ireland in 2011. With over three decades of experience, he held key positions such as non-executive chairman at Virgin Wines and the Embark Group, in addition to serving as a senior independent director at LV insurance. His most recent role was as a strategic adviser at Harwood Capital investment group.