POOR weather conditions may have caused a motorist to pull out at crossroads into the path of a 14-ton lorry, an inquest has been told.

Michael Cooper was killed in the accident at Holt Heath, near Worcester, last year.

The 64-year-old had been driving to his home in Cutnall Green, near Droitwich, when the accident happened on Tuesday, October 10, at about 8.15pm.

The inquest held yesterday at Worcester's Guildhall heard that Mr Cooper's L-reg Citroen ZX Advantage "shot out" from School Lane, on to the A4133 Holt road.

A 14-ton unladen Scania lorry was travelling along the A4133 towards Tenbury Wells, when it hit Mr Cooper's car.

"I was coming round the corner and could see the car sitting on the junction," said lorry driver Robert Edwards in a police interview.

"When I was on top of the junction he came out real fast.

"I had no chance to touch the brakes. I had no chance to stop.

"The car shot out."

The inquest heard the lorry had more than the usual amount of lights, but it was dark and raining.

"There was no reason for the vehicle not to see the lorry," said PC Tim Tritton of Worcester's Road Policing Unit.

"But due to the conditions, Mr Cooper could have misjudged the distance and speed of the coming lorry."

The inquest heard the roads around Holt Heath had their speed limits reduced on the day of the accident, but not all of the signs were in place.

The stretch of road by the School Lane crossroads was in a 30mph zone, previously it had been 40mph.

Accident experts said Mr Edwards had been driving at an average speed of 37mph at the time of impact.

Mr Cooper died at the scene from shock and haemorrhaging from multiple injuries.

Worcestershire deputy coroner Tim Sherwood recorded a verdict of accidental death.

"He was a caring, thoughtful man," said Ben Cooper, Mr Cooper's son, speaking after the inquest.

"To die in this manner is a horrible thing to have to cope with. We're satisfied with the police evidence and that it was accidental."