A POPULAR jockey was fatally injured in a three-vehicle crash as he attempted to overtake another car on a country road, an inquest heard today.

John Goggin, from Wroughton, was driving his silver Toyota Corolla along the A346 between Marlborough and Swindon when it collided with a blue Audi A4 and black Vauxhall Astra at 11.45pm on November 15 last year.

The 20-year-old was taken to Southmead Hospital, Bristol, but died six days later.

Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner's Court at Salisbury heard the written evidence of Audi driver Gareth Davies, who was travelling in the carriageway in the opposite direction and suffered leg injuries.

He said he saw headlights ‘emerge’ from behind another car and into his lane in the seconds leading up to the crash.

“I was going around 50 to 55mph and I saw headlights in the opposite lane then a second set come out from behind," said Mr Davies.

"I could clearly see the headlights continue to emerge behind the first car. I wasn’t concerned in that moment because I still had a bit of a gap in front of me.

“At first I thought the car must be a fast one as it still had a small gap to overtake. I started decelerating.

“It seemed to take a long time to overtake and when it got closer I slammed the brakes on. I was braking harshly.

“The overtaking car took evasive action and went to go into a gap in the other lane. The overtaking car then hit the front offside of my car as it went through the gap. If he had not tried to go through the gap it would have been a full frontal impact.”

Claire Collins, who was driving the Vauxhall Astra at around 45mph in front of Mr Goggin, said: “I saw a car in my mirror and assumed it was overtaking. I can remember seeing the window of the car. I felt a bang as the car hit the side of my car.

“I remember braking hard, my car just didn’t seem to be slowing down so I put the handbrake on.”

A post-mortem examination found Mr Goggin died of multiple injuries.

There were no defects with any of the vehicles.

Concluding, senior coroner for Swindon and Wiltshire David Ridley said: “Irrespective of the car in the opposite lane John attempted an overtaking manoeuvre and went onto the other side of the carriageway.

“This resulted in driving into the path of a car travelling in the opposite direction. As he attempted to return to the northbound lane there was a collision.

“He sustained multiple traumatic injuries incompatible with life.

“My conclusion is one of road traffic collision.”

Mr Goggin worked for trainer Alan King, based at Barbury Castle stables, near Wroughton and was well known in Marlborough.

The organisation said Mr Goggin had been on his way home from racing in Cheltenham at the time of the crash.

Social media tributes described Mr Goggin as the ‘kindest, sweetest guy anyone could ever wish to meet.’