A BUSINESSMAN has died following a road accident on Friday morning.

John Parrish from Stanford Bury Farm, Shefford, was killed when his car crashed into a field near Ireland on Friday.

Mr Parrish was a senior partner of J Parrish and Son of Shefford, a family-run business specialising in industrial plant installation and removal.

Paramedics were alerted a 6.38am but Mr Parrish was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 70-year-old was driving alone in his beige Skoda Yeti along Ireland Road, adjacent to the A600 between Shefford and Rowney Warren when the accident occurred. No other vehicles were involved.

It is not known what caused him to swerve off the road and an investigation has been launched by Bedfordshire police.

Investigating officer Pc Chris Naughton said: “The car was travelling towards Ireland from the B568 and clipped the nearside kerb before leaving the road and rolling into an adjacent field.

“The collision was reported after the car was seen by a passing motorist. Sadly the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The time and remote location of this collision makes it very difficult to establish what caused the driver to swerve off the road. Something may have been in the road to cause him to swerve or perhaps another vehicle, whatever the reason it is right that we understand the circumstances that led to this man’s death.”

An inquest into the death was opened and adjourned on Monday.

If anyone has information about traffic on Ireland Road on Friday morning please contact the Collision Investigation Unit in confidence on 01438 757506.

Alternatively contact the non-emergency number 101, text information to 07786 200011, or contact independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org