AN INQUEST into the death of a pensioner who died in an A14 crash has suggested he stopped the car of his own accord on the inside carriageway.Kenneth Clarke, died in an accident, on September 16 last year, at Levington when an articulated lorry collided into his Nissan Almera, leaving it upside down on top of a tree.

AN INQUEST into the death of a pensioner who died in an A14 crash has suggested he stopped the car of his own accord on the inside carriageway.

Kenneth Clarke, died in an accident, on September 16 last year, at Levington when an articulated lorry collided into his Nissan Almera, leaving it upside down on top of a tree.

At the time it was thought the pensioner, of Great Field, Trimley St Mary, had broken down and was waiting for help but the inquest, at Endeavour House, suggested otherwise.

Eight witnesses reported seeing Mr Clarke's car at a stand still on the A14 at around 11.30pm but all of them said he did not have his hazard lights on.

Deputy coroner, Roger Stewart, said: "There were no defects to suggest why the car had stopped. This suggests that the man stopped of his own accord.

"He was local and so it was unlikely he was disoriented or lost.

"One witness saw a Scania articulated lorry approaching the parked car. She then saw a collision between the two vehicles and the car being spun round."

Mr Stewart said the Nissan left the carriageway and was found by police lying on its roof on top of a small tree.

A post mortem revealed that Mr Clarke, who lived alone, died of head injuries. He also had a heart disease.

Mr Clarke had lived in Great Field for 3 years and was a regular at the Hand in Hand at Trimley St Martin.

He was also an occasional visitor to the Conservative Club in Felixstowe.

At the time of his death neighbours described him as a quiet, independent man who liked living on his own.

Before recording a verdict of accidental death at the inquest, Mr Stewart, said: "What is the correct verdict to rule when a vehicle comes to rest in the near side lane of a heavy carriage road late at night?

"Quite clearly the lorry went into the back of the vehicle and pushed it off the road. This was the direct cause of death."