TRAGIC: Michael Davison, originally from Barrow, was killed in a road accident in Hawaii

Barrow man killed in freak car accident in Hawaii

Published at 13:12, Tuesday, 15 September 2009

A BARROW man who worked as a PA to Hollywood stars has been killed after a runaway trailer carrying canoes crashed into his car.

Michael Davison, 49, was on holiday in Hawaii when the tragedy occurred last Sunday.

The trailer disconnected from a pick-up truck, crossed the Queen Kaahumanu Highway and hit Mr Davison’s sport utility vehicle.

Police said one of the canoes crashed through the windscreen and struck Mr Davison.

He died less than an hour after the accident in hospital.

Mr Davison’s sister Heather was notified by police on Tuesday.

His parents, Kath and Terry Davison and brother Steve, live in Barrow and Ireleth respectively.

Mr Davison grew up in Croslands Park, Barrow, before attending catering college in Kendal.

He worked at award-winning restaurants in the UK before working his way round Europe.

Mr Davison moved to America in 1985.

His career really took off when he was hired as Warren Beatty’s personal assistant.

Mr Davison lived with Beatty, Annette Bening and their children in LA.

He assisted him through five movies, from Dick Tracy in 1990 to Town and Country in 2001 and accompanied the couple on their Truth Squad propaganda bus tour in 2005.

He gave up the Hollywood lifestyle to go backpacking around the world.

On his return to the States Mr Davison worked for media mogul Barry Diller in New York.

He witnessed the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Towers and lost friends who worked in the centre.

Mr Davison returned to LA to work as PA to Nicolas Cage.

Filming for The Sorcerer’s Apprentice had just wrapped up so Mr Davison took the opportunity to visit Hawaii before filming began on the Green Hornet.

His family last heard from him on Saturday when he sent an email update on his holiday.

He had been to some of the smaller Hawaiian islands before and loved them, but had never been to ‘Big Island’,” said his sister-in-law Lynne Davison, from Ireleth.

“He was hoping for an easy, tranquil, simple, somewhat relaxing, rainbow and star-gazing type of trip and was so excited to be getting a break.”

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers are investigating the accident and a negligent homicide investigation has been opened.

l See pages 12 and 13 for tributes from his family