THE horror smash in an archway at Castle Howard claimed the life of a senior manager at York-based Portakabin.

Andrew Fennell, 43, of Stamford Bridge, was driving a silver Nissan Terrano 4x4 which crashed into the stone archway on Tuesday.

An inquest into his death was expected by police to be opened and adjourned today.

Mr Fennell worked as IT manager at Portakabin's factory in New Lane, Huntington.

The company's personnel director, Mike Turnham, said he had worked for the company for about 15 years, starting off as a computer services officer but quickly becoming manager.

He today paid tribute to Mr Fennell, saying: "He was a very well liked person, a highly respected and very valued member of our team.

"We are all terribly saddened by this tragic loss."

He said the thoughts of staff were with Mr Fennell's wife and family.

Mr Turnham said Mr Fennell had not been on company business at the time of the accident, having been off work sick on Monday and Tuesday, and he had been driving his own vehicle.

Portakabin announced last month that 48 jobs were to be cut, predominantly among the shop floor workforce, but Mr Turnham said the IT department had not been affected by the redundancies.

Mr Fennell was a member of Stamford Bridge Judo Club but Rob Thomas, from the club, said he could not make any comment until he had had chance to speak to the family.

Mr Fennell's accident on Tuesday was the second fatal crash in less than three months at the Castle Howard archway, under which the road - which takes traffic from the A64 to the stately home -

narrows to a single lane.

On August 15, a 23-year-old York University student, Lawrence Koppert, died there only hours before he was due at York Crown Court on a wounding charge, which he denied.

His family said afterwards that he killed himself by driving into the ornate arch at high speed because he could not face going back to prison.

Police investigating the circumstances of Mr Fennell's accident appealed earlier this week for anyone who witnessed the crash or saw the vehicle beforehand to contact them.

The road under the arch has been closed to traffic since the accident.

A county highways spokesman said today that work was being carried out to make the structure safe, and it was hoped the road could reopen later today to cars.

Updated: 09:34 Friday, November 04, 2005