A couple's holiday ended in tragedy when their car veered off the motorway and crashed into a broken down van, killing Sadie Taylor, aged 66, of Earl's Croome.

Her husband John was so devastated by the loss of his wife he no longer felt life was worth living, an inquest heard.

Gloucester coroner David Gibbons heard Mr Taylor, of Earl's Croome, was driving his VW Sirocco along the M5, near Gloucester, when he drifted on to the hard shoulder.

The car ploughed into the van at 70mph and catapaulted into the air.

Mrs Taylor died from massive injuries, said pathologist Dr Jonathan Christie-Brown.

The collision, on June 30, happened as the couple returned home from the south of England. The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death

"This was a very tragic end to a pleasant summer holiday," said Mr Gibbons.

He said police could find no explanation but the possibility that Mr Taylor had fallen asleep could not be ruled out.

Julie Finnegan, who had followed Mr Taylor's car for some time, described his driving as "impeccable" prior to it drifting on to the hard shoulder.

"I felt fear and dread about what was going to happen," she said. "The hair stood up on the back of my neck. I was willing the Sirocco to straighten up. I then watched it hit the van. It collided with it at 70mph, its speed never faltered as it left the motorway."

As she rushed over to the Sirocco, Mrs Taylor appeared dead and Mr Taylor was asking how his wife was.

PC Lisa Wood, a police family liaison officer, said she had kept in touch with Mr Taylor since the accident.

He had been devastated by his wife's death and blamed himself, she said. He had described her as the "backbone" of their marriage and said they did everything together.

The only person who could shed light on the crash would be Mr Taylor but he had lost his memory because of his trauma and injury.