A grandfather has died in a tragic accident involving his own SUV in Yorkshire, England.
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Roland Krumins, 66, was crushed to death after failing to engage the emergency brake, according to findings presented at an inquest.
The incident occurred on the morning of April 6, 2025, as Krumins was on his way to work.
Details of the case have only recently come to light following multiple reports.
Grandfather Crushed to Death After SUV Rolls Down Hill
The inquest heard that Krumins' vehicle began rolling downhill after the handbrake was not applied.
The SUV then crashed into a wall, trapping him between the open driver's door and the vehicle.
Assistant Coroner Angela Brocklehurst, of Bradford Coroner's Court, ruled the death accidental.
The cause of death was recorded as "crush asphyxia."
The incident took place in Halifax, though it remains unclear why Krumins had stopped his vehicle.
As the SUV began to roll, Krumins attempted to regain control but suffered fatal injuries.
Forensic Collision Investigator PC Bhupinder Sood said there was little he could have done to prevent the outcome.
"Someone isn't going to stop a vehicle at that weight," Sood said. "There is nothing he would have been able to do other than leave it. The way the marks are, it's happened so quick, it's unlikely he had time to get out the way."
Family Pays Tribute to 'Perfect Gentleman'
During the hearing, it was revealed that the vehicle had been left in neutral with the keys still in the ignition, while the handbrake had not been engaged.
Krumins was discovered by Christopher Turner, who said he found the grandfather "laid half in and half out of the vehicle."
Emergency services were called, but Krumins was pronounced dead at the scene.
His wife, Melanie, whom he married in 1990, described him as a devoted family man.
"Everything revolved around family," she said. "He'll be really missed as a husband and father and grandad," adding, "He was just the perfect gentleman."
Krumins had spent 45 years working in retail, rising to a managerial role and making "many friends" along the way, according to his family.
There were no witnesses to the incident, and CCTV footage showed no issues with his driving prior to the accident.
