**Tragic Crash Claims Life of Former Aviva CEO**

David Barral, the former CEO of Aviva Life and Pensions, has tragically died in a car crash in West Yorkshire. The 63-year-old businessman was driving a grey Aston Martin DBX SUV when the vehicle veered off the A58 Leeds Road, collided with a tree, and subsequently caught fire shortly after 2pm on Tuesday, 14 October.

His family has expressed their devastation, describing him as a "most wonderful man". In a heartfelt statement, they said, "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."

Emergency services responded promptly to the scene, where images showed a significant presence of police and fire crews. West Yorkshire Police confirmed that Mr Barral was pronounced dead at the scene. They are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision and have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

A police statement noted, "Officers from the Major Collision Enquiry Team are appealing for anyone who saw the collision or the car’s movements in the time leading up to it to please contact them. They would particularly like to hear from anyone with relevant dashcam or CCTV footage. You can contact West Yorkshire Police online or by calling 101 quoting reference 13250591258."

David Barral had a distinguished career in the insurance industry, serving in senior roles at Aviva from 1999 to 2015, including a tenure as UK and Ireland CEO from 2011. His extensive experience also included non-executive chairman positions at Virgin Wines and Embark Group, as well as a role as a senior independent director at LV=. Most recently, he was a strategic adviser at Harwood Capital, an investment group.

The investigation into the crash continues as the community mourns the loss of a respected figure in the business world.