A MAN who died in a car crash on the A65 near Ingleton has been named.

Joseph Michael Keane, aged 28, from Billinge, near Wigan, was a passenger in a Peugeot car which collided with a converted campervan on Friday afternoon.

In a statement released by North Yorkshire Police, his family said he was a 'kind, considerate, loving person'.

"It is not possible to describe just how much Joe was loved by his mum and dad, sister, girlfriend and all his family and friends," his family said.

"He was such a kind, considerate loving person and we have been privileged to have had him in our lives for 28 years.

"He had a lovely dry, warm sense of humour which endeared him to whomever was lucky enough to have been in his presence.

"His passions in life were for his family and friends and a love of books. He hated social injustice and advocated for people who were least able to help themselves.

"His loss has left us bereft and the only comfort we have is being surrounded by the people who loved him most.  He was such a special, beautiful person, we have been enriched by his presence and the pain of his loss means our lives will never be the same again."

Police are appealing for information and dashcam footage after the crash, which happened between Clapham and Ingleton, just north of the turn off to Bentham, at about 4.15pm.

A white, flatbed truck, converted into a campervan, was travelling towards Ingleton and was in collision with a Peugeot car heading in the opposite direction.

The car driver, a 21-year-old woman, also from Wigan, was taken to hospital but later discharged.

The driver of the converted campervan, a 28-year-old man from the Halifax area, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drink/drugs.

He has since been released under investigation.

Three other men who were travelling in the campervan conversion sustained minor injuries.

A third vehicle, a decommissioned ambulance, believed to be in convoy with the campervan, left the scene of the incident.

Later it collided with the barrier of a level crossing at Kildwick and came to rest on the train tracks.

The driver, a 41-year-old man from Halifax, was arrested and has since been charged with:

  • Dangerous driving
  •  Driving while disqualified
  •  Failing to stop for the police
  • Failing to provide a specimen for analysis
  • Obstructing a railway
  •  Driving without insurance

He is due to appear at Skipton Magistrates’ Court on August 17.

The train line was closed following the incident until the vehicle was recovered.

Police are appealing for anyone with any dashcam footage - or who saw either the converted campervan or the decommissioned ambulance travelling along the A65, and anyone who witnessed the crash - to come foward.

"The converted campervan was quite distinctive due to the crudeness of its conversion," said a police spokesman.

"Officers are appealing to anyone who may have seen the 'ambulance', which also had livery on it, or has any dashcam footage of its journey, to contact them."