A UNIVERSITY lecturer died after his car was involved in a head-on collision on the A59 at Sawley, an inquest heard.

Kevin David Kendrick, 40, had been travelling to Liverpool on August 20 from his family home in Ilkley with his wife Pauline and son Paul, six.

He was on the A59 towards Clitheroe when a Rover 200 Series convertible, driven by Karen Jordan, of Carnforth near Lancaster, overtook two stationary vehicles, one of which was waiting to turn into Rose County Foods at Sawley, the inquest was told.

Road traffic officer PC Stephen Wilson said it was without doubt that Karen Jordan, who said she believed that the two stationary vehicles, a Rose County Foods lorry and a white box van, had been parked up at the side of the road, should have seen Mr Kendrick's Proton coming towards her.

The driver of the lorry, John Pollard, from Padiham, said he was indicating to turn into the Rose County Foods premises with the white box van, driven by Kenneth Spencer of York, waiting behind him.

He said there were a number of cars coming in the opposite direction with the Proton at the back.

Witnesses Stephen Pollard of Kelbrook and Mark Kay of Earby, who were travelling in a Vauxhall Nova, said Karen Jordan had overtaken them on nearby Sawley Brow at around 60mph.

They said as they approached the two stationary vehicles they could clearly see the lorry indicating right.

There was some confusion among witnesses as to whether Karen Jordan hit the white box van or the Proton first but PC Wilson said: "From the gouge marks on the road it is without doubt that the Rover driver first impacted with the Proton."

Karen Jordan, who was not at the inquest at Ribble Valley Town Hall in Clitheroe, said in a police statement: "As I approached the box van I went to overtake the stationary vehicles as I realised I could not slow down enough. I could not see anything coming in the opposite direction." She added: "I only saw the Proton when it was level with the front of the lorry."

Following the collision with Mr Kendrick's car, which spun before ending up in a nearby field, the Rover then went on to hit the rear of the box van. PC Wilson said: "The road was in a good condition, and it was a clear, fine day.

"From the tests carried out, it would be very difficult for me to determine the speed at which the Proton was travelling. With regards to the Rover, I would say it was travelling at no more than the national speed limit of 60mph."

Mr Kendrick's widow Pauline said she had been sitting in the back seat with their son when she heard her husband shout. She looked up to see the Rover and said she felt "a crunch" but said she could not remember anything else until she realised the car was in a field.

"Kevin said his leg had gone, and I took that to mean he had broken it."

The emergency services then arrived and her husband was taken by air ambulance to the Royal Preston Hospital. He was found to have been suffering from severe fractures to his right leg, which resulted in part of the leg having to be amputated some days later.l pneumonia and multiple organ failure which had been caused by his leg injuries sustained in the accident.

Coroner Michael Singleton recorded a a verdict of accidental death for Mr Kendrick, who had been a lecturer at Leeds University.

He said: "Clearly this was a horrific event and for those who witnessed it it will live with them for the rest of their lives."