A FATAL crash on the A358 which killed a Southampton man was 'unavoidable', an inquest heard. 

Daniel Boyle, 63, of Cromer Road, Southampton, died at the scene of a crash on the A358 between Taunton and Ilminster near the Broadway Junction.

Mr Boyle had been performing a u-turn shortly after 6pm on Friday, January 27, when his VW Passat collided with a Müller milk lorry, the inquest was told.

Deputy coroner, Tim Hayden confirmed that a toxicology report stated Mr Boyle had no drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of the crash at an inquest at Taunton Coroner's Court today (July 26.)

A post mortem examination revealed Mr Boyle died of multiple injuries including a ruptured spleen, broken and fractured ribs and a collapsed lung. 

The coroner then read a statement from Michael Robertson, the driver of the Müller milk lorry. 

"I was driving at 50mph behind the VW Passat" he said.

"I thought nothing about the vehicle, nothing caused me concern as it approached a staggered junction. 

"The VW Passat indicated to come off to the left to move onto the slip road, I saw brake lights as the car began to slow down.

"The VW Passat then indicated right, it looked like the driver was attempting a u-turn. 

"I immediately swerved and braked.

"I heard a crunch to the vehicle, the impact felt minor.

"It was in my blind spot, I didn't think it was a serious crash."

Robertson said he was so shocked by the incident that he didn't immediately call emergency services. 

"I sat in my cab for a few minutes after the crash, I was so shocked about what had happened," the statement said.

Another driver, of a Mercedes Benz car, then pulled over to help and called emergency services. 

Robertson said he then helped the front-seat passenger, who was 'was covered in blood', out of the car and tried to get him to sit down on a grass verge.

He then went to help the driver who he could see had been pushed towards the front of the car. 

"The driver showed no signs of movement, he was covered in blood," he said.

"It all happened so quickly, there was no time."

Alan Riley, transport shift manager at Müller, provided CCTV footage from the truck which corroborated Robertson's statement. 

A collision investigation report compiled by Avon and Somerset Police's collision investigation unit said both vehicles had no mechanical faults before the crash.

The report said Robertson would have been 'unable to stop' to avoid the crash as he would have needed five seconds - and only had two.  

An extract from the report said: "Mr Robertson would have been unable to stop in the time he had before impact.

"The crash was unavoidable."

Deputy coroner Tim Hayden came to the conclusion Mr Boyle died of multiple injuries as a result of the crash.