A woman who died after her van collided with a tractor became distracted behind the wheel, a coroner has said.

Eastern Daily Press: Kristie 'Kaz' Yaxley. Pic credit: Brad Del Scott.Kristie 'Kaz' Yaxley. Pic credit: Brad Del Scott. (Image: Brad Del Scott)

Assistant coroner Johanna Thompson said at an inquest in Norwich today (Friday, May 5) the crash that killed 26-year-old Kristie Yaxley on August 18 last year was accidental.

Miss Yaxley, known as 'Kaz', was driving a Fiat Fiorino van northwards on the A11 at Wymondham when it ran into the back of a subsoil cultivator attached to a tractor. She died at the scene.

PC Graeme Brookes, collision investigator, said in a report that a mobile phone was found in the van's driver-side footwell.

But PC Brookes said: 'It would appear that (the crash) was a result of Miss Yaxley being distracted, however the cause of the distraction cannot be ascertained.'

And Mrs Thompson said there was no evidence to suggest that she was using the phone at the time.

Making a formal conclusion that the death occurred as a result of a road traffic accident, Mrs Thompson said: 'I would like to offer my condolences to Miss Yaxley's family and my sympathy to the other witnesses who have been involved.'

The inquest heard Miss Yaxley, who worked as a delivery driver for a motor works factory in Norwich, was driving about 60mph at the time of the crash and the Case Quadtrac 600 tractor was going about 20mph.

Several other motorists who passed the two vehicles said they allowed space for the van to move into the right lane of the dual carriageway and overtake the tractor, but it appeared to make no attempt to do so or to slow down.

The tractor's driver, farmer James Guy, said in a statement he was driving a short distance on the A11 on his way between Bracon Ash and Wicklewood, and he only realised a vehicle had hit the cultivator after another car pulled up in front of him.

Miss Yaxley's friends and family are planning to come together to remember her at a special day themed around her passions - live music and modified cars.

Called 'Kaz Fest' the event will take place at Broad Farm, Fleggburgh, near Great Yarmouth between 10.30am and midnight on June 4. Kelly Hydon, the event's organiser and friend of Miss Yaxley, paid tribute to her, describing her as 'beautiful inside and out'.