A MAN who drove off a garage forecourt without paying for petrol was killed in a crash with a 17-ton lorry, an inquest heard.

The Preston hearing was told that Mohammed Ali Hussain, of Clegg Street, Brierfield, had taken his father's powerful Rover 820 car without permission on Friday November 13 last year. The registration plate had been altered with self adhesive stickers.

Witnesses said the lorry had no chance of avoiding a collision and ended up in the garden of a house opposite the Windmill filling station on the A677 Preston New Road at Mellor.

The Rover also struck a 500cc motorcycle ridden by Mr Stephen Baron of Carnforth Close, Blackburn, who ended up in a hedge and sustained serious injuries from which he is now recovering.

Mr Nazir Hussain of Reedley Road, Burnley, said his son did not have permission to use the car and no one else was insured to drive it.

Filling station cashier Miss Jacqueline Garnett said she saw the Rover fill up with petrol around 11.30am. The driver did not pay the £31 bill and left via the no exit route. She heard the impact noise of the crash and saw that the lorry had gone across the road and ended up in a garden opposite.

Bus driver Mr John Ward, of Wheatley Lane Road, Fence, said: "I saw a cloud of smoke coming from behind a car as it shot out of the garage. It came out very quickly," said Mr Ward. He added: "The car came out right in front of the lorry, giving him no chance to stop."

Mr Douglas Chalmers of Lightfoot Lane, Preston, told how he saw the motorcyclist fly through the air towards a hedge. When he went to help Mr Hussain he could find no pulse.

"He was lying across the passenger seat, obviously dead," said Mr Chalmers. Lorry driver Michael Gissing of Grant Street, Keighley, told the inquest he and Mr Hussain glanced at each other for a split second.

He said he could not go anywhere or brake in time.

Sergeant James Boothby said an analysis of the tachograph revealed there was an impact speed of 44mph. The actions of Mr Hussain were the major cause of the accident and no proceedings are to be taken against Mr Gissing.

Recording an accidental death verdict, county coroner Mr Howard McCann said it was not known if Mr Hussain had deliberately not paid for the petrol or whether it was an oversight.

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