A motorist who died after his vehicle left the M6 and hit a tree suffered a medical episode at the wheel, an inquest heard.
Alexander Bell Bonnar, aged 69, from Glasgow, was involved in a single vehicle collision on the motorway, between junctions 37 and 38, south of Tebay, at around 11am on August 15.
Police closed a section of the road for some time as an investigation got under way.
An inquest into Mr Bonnar’s death was formally opened at Cockermouth Coroners’ Court this morning.
Ms Margaret Taylor, assistant coroner for Cumbria, noted: “The very brief circumstances are that Mr Bonnar was travelling northbound on the M6 when it is believed he had a medical episode and veered off the carriageway, on to the hard shoulder and collided with a tree.
“Although there clearly has been a medical episode, there is an unnatural element in relation to his death.”
As a result, a full inquest will be needed, the coroner concluded.
Ms Taylor adjourned today’s brief hearing. The full inquest of Mr Bonnar, who lived at Boydstone Place, Thornliebank, Glasgow, is due to take place on March 20 next year.
