An 18-year-old man died after driving a stolen BMW the wrong way down the M60 near Stockport, colliding head-on with a Vauxhall and killing the other driver, an inquest has heard.
Brandon Pryde, also known as Brandon Geasley, was driving a BMW X4 reported stolen the previous day when police spotted him in Wythenshawe and initiated a pursuit. During the chase, he reached speeds of up to 130mph before entering the M60 in the wrong direction, narrowly missing a police car before crashing into a red Vauxhall driven by 66-year-old David Faulkner. Both men died at the scene on 27 May.
PC Jennifer Barrow told Manchester South Coroners Court that she ended her pursuit when the BMW hit 130mph, but another officer reported that Brandon had re-entered the motorway the wrong way. PC Barrow defended the proportionality of the chase, stating that the crime and duty to apprehend justified the risks. She denied that the pursuit caused Brandon to drive the wrong way, noting he could have taken other exits.
Brandon's mother, Olivia Geasley, described her son as a quiet, well-mannered boy who wanted to start a dog breeding business. No evidence was presented that Brandon stole the car; a 40-year-old man has been charged with theft. The inquest continues and is expected to conclude by Friday, with a separate inquest for Mr Faulkner beginning next week.
