A BLACKPOOL barmaid who died in a car crash on the M6 motorway probably fell asleep at the wheel, an inquest in Lancaster was told.

Elizabeth Rose Ellwood of Redmayne Drive, Carnforth, was returning from a night shift at the Auctioneer pub in Lytham Road, Blackpool, in the early hours of September 24 when her car scraped against a barrier and hit a tree at the bottom of an embankment.

Miss Ellwood, who was 19 at the time of her death, was a student at the University of Central Lancashire and was working four days a week at the Auctioneer pub on Lytham Road, sometimes staying with friends in the town when she was working late.

Manager of The Auctioneer Mark Batty said: "Rosie was a well-liked girl and it came as a real shock. She had worked here for about 12 months and got on with everybody.

"It was her last shift here as well that night. She was transferring to a pub in Lancaster which was nearer her home and was just 100 metres from a turn off when the accident happened. It's tragic.

"We all went to the funeral from here and the staff raised £500 which we gave to her parents."

PC Stephen Wilson of Lancashire police's accident investigation unit said that there was no evidence to suggest that any other car had been involved in the incident and the most likely cause of the crash was that the driver had fallen asleep.

Another possibility, according to PC Wilson, was an animal running across the carriageway had distracted Miss Ellwood and led to the crash. A post mortem revealed that Miss Ellwood had died instantly of multiple injuries.

Her mother Pamela Ellwood said she had last seen her daughter on the Saturday and said: "She was in high spirits and had a lot to look forward to."

Craig Hart, a friend of Miss Ellwood's, had been working with her on a late shift at The Auctioneer.

After they finished work at around 12.30am, they ate at a nearby Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant and she asked him if he would like to come to her home for the night.

He said no as he had to be up at 8.30am the following morning and offered her the opportunity to stay with him at his home in the resort. She said no, as she did not want to get up at that time in the morning.

Asked if Miss Ellwood had been drinking, Mr Hart said no, adding: "She was very much against drinking and driving." The post mortem also found no evidence of alcohol.

Miss Ellwood's car was discovered by Michael William Lamb, a lorry driver from Blackburn, at 6.28am and police were called to the scene.

North Lancashire coroner George Howson said: "There is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that any other person or vehicle was involved in this accident."

A verdict of misadventure was recorded.