A mum-of-two dubbed the ‘queen of poker’ was killed in a horror smash after leaving a casino during her first ever World Series tournament, an inquest heard.
Emma Fryer, 42, had just started a new career as a professional poker player and was taking part in the World Series of Poker Europe Tournament in the Czech village of Rozvadov, when the sat nav in the car she was travelling in failed.
She was being driven back to her hotel from King’s Casino when the car’s driver, David Nelson, spotted a sign at the roadside indicating he was about to reach a roundabout in heavy fog, but as he tried to slow down the car spun 180 degrees and ploughed into a lamp-post.
Mrs Fryer, from Alsager in Cheshire, who was in the front passenger seat, suffered multiple injuries and died three days later in hospital.
The Crewe hearing was told that Mrs Fryer was a former VIP account manager for Bet365 but had finally started playing poker professionally.
She had found a backer after banking almost £45,000 at a previous event and competing in major tournaments in Nottingham and Sheffield.
Just a month before the tragedy, she had listed her profession as "poker player."
Her mother, Sheila Waring, said: ”On November 5, 2017, she was at the King’s casino in Rozvadov and she had been there with David Nelson and others. As I understand, Emma and David left the casino to drive back to their accommodation.
"It was then that David crashed into a metal post stood up in concrete. We went out to see the scene. Sadly she died from her injuries.
“It was such a shock, it still feels surreal. Everything was going so well for her, she was the happiest she had ever been.”
Nelson was subsequently convicted of a negligence offence similar to causing death by careless driving following the horror smash. His sentence is not known.
In a statement, he said: “On November 5, I was driving from the casino in Rozvadov to our hotel with Emma. We put the details in the SatNav on my phone and we set off.
“The fog was very bad and we could only see about 25 metres in front of us. Around 40 minutes into the journey we got onto a motorway.
“While driving, I saw a sign for a roundabout, but there was no warning from my SatNav, so I hit the brakes. The car skidded around about 180 degrees and we hit a lamppost.
“The front windscreen was cracked and Emma was leaning on her airbag complaining that her nose was bleeding. A man passing by helped us out of the car and he spoke a little bit of English.
“The passer-by sat in the driver’s seat asking Emma if she was OK. The emergency services came and got Emma’s door open and were talking to her.
“The police breathalyser me twice and both times were negative for alcohol. I was taken to hospital and Emma was taken to a different one.
“It was about three days later that Emma died from her injuries. I was arrested the police and I was charged with negligence as somebody needs to be held responsible, it cannot be an accident in Czech law.”
Recording a verdict of death by road traffic collision, coroner Peter Sigee said: “Mr Nelson told me about his journey in the Czech Republic and he told me a little about the weather and road conditions while he was driving.
“He tells me they were using the SatNav on his phone. He said that they were driving through fog and sadly the SatNav didn’t show the approaching roundabout.
“He braked at the last minute and skidded and struck a metal post. The vehicle was damaged and he and Emma were both injured.
“Emma died as a result of her injuries. There were criminal proceedings brought against David in the Czech Republic and they resulted in a conviction. This appears to be the equivalent of a charge of causing death by careless driving. At the time of writing his statement, he was awaiting criminal proceedings.
“Subsequently, Czech criminal proceedings have been resolved and there was a conviction in relation to them. Following legal advice, he will not seek to appeal against this conviction.”
Emma was mum to Gemma, 20, and 18-year-old Jessica.
At the time of crash Miss Fryer’s family said she had just learnt that her eldest daughter was pregnant.
Sister Liz Carter, 32, and also from Alsager, said: “There was no fault on the part of the driver. It was just a tragic accident.
“Emma was so sociable. If you met her once you would remember her. She was so caring and thoughtful and she doted on her nieces and nephews. She was never still – she was always doing something.”
Sister Sally Parton, 38, said: “Everyone said this was going to be her breakout year in poker, when she was going to make it to the top.
“She was so popular – she was like a celebrity. The number of people who have been in touch with us has been amazing. Seeing what she meant to so many people has been a great comfort.”
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