CORONER Richard van Oppen said there was no way of knowing why motorist Albert Trebilcock failed to stop at the Purton junction of the B4696 on January 26 this year.

Mr Trebilcock, 65, of Bendy Bow, Oaksey, was killed outright in the accident, which occurred just before 7am.

The inquest into Mr Trebilcock's death, at Salisbury Coroner's Court on Thursday, heard how he had been travelling from Minety towards Purton, when his car, a white Peugeot 205, was in collision with a Peugeot 306, driven by RAF engineer Melvyn Willis.

In a written statement read to the court, Mr Willis, of Marlborough Court, Wootton Bassett, told how he was travelling from his home, north towards South Cerney when Mr Trebilcock's car crossed the junction in front of him without stopping.

Mr Willis's car struck Mr Trebilcock's side on, causing his own airbag to inflate and his car to somersault, before coming to rest at the side of the road.

Mr Willis did not suffer serious injuries in the collision, but Mr Trebilcock was taken to Great Western Hospital in Swindon, where he was pronounced dead from head injuries.

Traffic police officers who attended the scene confirmed that, although it had been dark, the weather and road conditions on the day of the accident had been good.

The junction was also free from ice and had good road markings.

Subsequent examinations of Mr Trebilcock's car found that it was unlikely that he had been wearing a seatbelt and that the front nearside tyre was unroadworthy, although that was unlikely to have contributed to the accident.

Accident investigators also said Mr Willis had not been travelling at excessive speed.

Mr van Oppen recorded a verdict of accidental death.