Inquest opens into death of Bentley crash victim Ben Jacobs

Ben Jacobs, 47, who lived in Rushmere St Andrew, died following a crash in Bentley on May 17[1] [2]this year. He had been cycling with friends Darren Cook, 48, Jason Taylor, 50, and Dave Solomon, 55, when a vehicle struck him and one other cyclist in Church Road. Mr Jacobs suffered a traumatic brain injury, that was described in Ipswich Coroners Court as "unsurvivable".

Ben Jacobs, who passed away following a crash in May. (Image: Contributed) He was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge[3], where he later passed away on May 18. Mr Solomon was also injured during the crash but later released from hospital.

Mr Jacobs was a loving father to three children, Thomas, Olivia and Holly, and a devoted husband of 25 years to Faye. Paying tribute to Mr Jacobs in June[4], his wife Faye said they were childhood sweethearts, "inseparable" from the day they met, when she was 15 years old. Ben Jacobs died after the crash in Bentley (Image: Suffolk police)

She added: "Ben was a brilliant husband who always made me laugh and feel safe, I will forever be lost without him. "Ben loved being a dad, was always supportive, and took his responsibilities very seriously. He made all my worries go away and he will forever be missed."

Mr Jacobs was a keen runner, cyclist and swimmer, and regularly took on challenges and was heavily involved with the Ipswich Parkrun.

Credit: Contributed (Image: Contributed) A keen cyclist and swimmer, Mr Jacobs was one of the race directors of Ipswich Parkrun and hundreds gathered to attend his funeral in the summer[5]. In an online tribute, the Park Run team wrote that he was "a friend to us all... a family man, a gentleman, kind and considerate.

He made time for everyone." More than GBP16,000 was raised in a fundraiser to support the family following the incident, with more than GBP9,000 in the first 48 hours[6]. Ben Jacobs (left) with friend and colleague Barry Perkins (right) when they were younger, having been friends since teenage years. Credit: Contributed (Image: Contributed)

Nigel Parsley, senior coroner for Suffolk, opened the inquest in Ipswich Coroners Court on Friday (December 22).

The inquest date has been set for June 24, 2024.

References

1. ^ a crash in Bentley on May 17 (www.ipswichstar.co.uk)
2. ^ (www.ipswichstar.co.uk)
3. ^ airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge (www.ipswichstar.co.uk)
4. ^ tribute to Mr Jacobs in June (www.ipswichstar.co.uk)
5. ^ hundreds gathered to attend his funeral in the summer (www.ipswichstar.co.uk)
6. ^ more than GBP9,000 in the first 48 hours (www.ipswichstar.co.uk)