Inquest Concludes 27-Year-Old Woman’s Death in Van Fall Was Suicide

An inquest has determined that a woman who died after falling from a moving van did so intentionally. Leah Senior, aged 27 and from Huddersfield, fell from a Ford Transit van on 17 January while it was being driven by her boyfriend on Denby Dale Road. Her partner was arrested soon after the incident but was not subjected to any further legal proceedings. The inquest, held on Tuesday at Wakefield Coroner’s Court, concluded that Miss Senior’s death was a suicide, stating explicitly that there was “no suggestion” her partner was in any way to blame. Hayley Senior, Miss Senior’s mother, provided written evidence to the inquest, informing the hearing that her daughter had been raised as “a happy, sassy and really jolly girl”. She also stated that her daughter had been profoundly impacted at the age of 13 by the passing of her grandmother. Miss Senior, an accountant by profession, subsequently developed issues with alcohol during the Covid lockdown period in 2020. The inquest heard that she had attended several appointments with health professionals concerning her alcohol consumption and mental well-being, but she believed “no-one was going to help her”. Mrs Senior further stated: “As Leah’s parents, we are so shocked. We never saw this coming and we are devastated.” Detective Sergeant Andrew Queen, from West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Inquiry Team, informed the inquest that the case was “initially treated as a potential murder inquiry”, but that “those suspicions were completely allayed by the investigation”. In his conclusion, coroner Oliver Longstaff noted that the evidence clearly indicated Miss Senior had “undertaken some research on how to end one’s life” and had made two prior attempts. Mr Longstaff stated that Miss Senior’s death resulted from “injuries sustained when she deliberately jumped” from the van, reiterating that there was “no suggestion” her partner was in any way to blame. For individuals affected by the themes presented in this report, assistance and support can be accessed through the BBC Action Line. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, view the latest episode of Look North, or submit a story for consideration here. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available for review.