Ex-Aviva CEO who died in ‘fireball’ crash was ‘upset’ minutes earlier

Former Aviva CEO David Barral was ‘very upset’ and ‘distressed’ just 15 minutes before he died in a ‘fireball’ crash, it was claimed today.

Mr Barral, 63, was killed when his luxury Aston Martin car veered off the road and collided with a tree.

The multi-millionaire father-of-three had been driving a grey £160,000 DBX SUV when it left the road near Wetherby, West Yorkshire, on Tuesday afternoon.

Police are continuing to investigate the death of Mr Barral, who held leadership roles at Aviva Life and Pensions between 1999 and 2015, and was made UK and Ireland chief executive in 2011.

Shortly before the tragedy, the businessman visited a Post Office a short distance from his family’s £1.2million home in affluent Scarcroft, near Leeds.

There, he had returned two boxes of designer Louis Vuitton boots bought for his wife Angela where he had appeared ‘upset’ and ‘very fragile’.

Shopkeeper Shazia Tariq told the Daily Mail that Mr Barral, a regular customer, was usually ‘very positive’ but appearing troubled in a way she had never seen before.

She said: ‘He was such a nice man and I’ve known him for many years.

‘But that day he was very upset and distressed about something. He made conversation about returning these parcels. It was something that appeared to upset him.

‘He emphasised how expensive they were. For a man who drives an Aston Martin, I was surprised by that.

‘He normally had such positive vibes but I found him very lost that day.

‘He mentioned that the parcels were Louis Vuitton boots and they were very expensive. He bought them for this wife and he just didn’t seem happy.’

Mr Barral, whose 30-year career included non-executive chairman roles at Virgin Wines and investment platform Embark Group, arrived at the Post Office at around 1.40pm on Tuesday and left around 10 minutes later.

Police were called to the crash, on the A58 Leeds Road between Bardsey and Collingham, shortly after 2pm.

The shopkeeper said she learned shortly after of Mr Barral’s death and was subsequently contacted by police officers.

She added: ‘It is very sad. He’s a really nice person, a sensible person – but normally a happy person.

‘I remember he was wearing jeans and a light blue blazer. He looked up at the ceiling and he was deep in thought.

‘He was in a different place. He wasn’t in a happy place, I know that.’

The parcels themselves seemed to weigh heavily on his mind, suggested the shopkeeper, who said Mr Barral insisted his wife’s contact number was taken for the receipt.

She continued: ‘He was in deep thoughts. He was upset. He wasn’t there.

‘I could see something was wrong because that was not his normal self.

‘This time he was a little fragile and he was very anxious. That was not him.’

She added: ‘There was something going on in his mind that wasn’t adding up to me.’

Officers from West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team are continuing the examine the circumstances of the collision, in which aerial photos revealed the blackened remains of the Aston Martin.

Mr Barral, who had a known love of sports cars, was said to be an accomplished driver ‘who knew how to handle a car’.

A friend in the well-heeled village of Scarcroft said it would have been ‘unusual’ for the businessman to drive recklessly.

Mr Barral’s family paid tribute in a statement released through police, which read: ‘We are all absolutely devastated at the loss of the most wonderful man.

‘Rest in peace David we will all miss you so, so much and you will always fill our hearts. We love you.’

A spokesman for Aviva said: ‘We are devastated by the loss of David. His contributions to the company and the broader business world were immeasurable. Our thoughts are with his family during this incredibly difficult time.’

The businessman was most recently a strategic adviser at investment group Harwood Capital.

In previous interviews, he told of his career in the insurance industry – including as a door-to-door salesman with Abbey Life.

He said: ‘Abbey was a really tough job, I was only 18 and I was probably too young to sustain it.

‘I did get my wife’s engagement ring with my third month’s salary, though.’

He went on to work for Guardian Royal Exchange as a claim negotiator then ran brokers Andrew Yule Insurance for three years where he walked the streets at lunchtime looking for trade.

Mr Barral, born in East Kilbride in Scotland, said previously that his life ambition was ‘to be the best that I can and see my children healthy, happy and debt-free. I would also like to catch a Marlin and ride a Harley’.

Witnesses are urged to contact West Yorkshire Police online or by calling 101, quoting reference 13250591258.