A MOTORIST who died after his imported car burst into flames in a head-on crash was overtaking a van at the time, which itself was overtaking a broken-down vehicle.
Essex Coroner's Court heard Terence Harrington was driving a left-hand-drive red Chevrolet Corvette on Essex Regiment Way by Channels Golf Club, Little Waltham, when he attempted the fatal manoeuvre last April.
The 67-year-old's vehicle struck a car carrying a family-of-four coming the other way.
At his inquest on Wednesday last week at County Hall, Chelmsford, area coroner Eleanor McGann said Mr Harrington, of Springfield Green, Chelmsford, was attempting to overtake a grey Ford Transit van, which was also overtaking a red Austin Healey Sprite, that had broken down at the side of the road.
A red triangular warning sign was placed behind the Austin as it was slightly obstructing traffic flowing from behind it.
The stretch of road is notorious for overtaking, but as Mr Harrington's car is left-hand-drive, he had to move farther across the road to see past the van than a car made for British roads.
His Corvette was sent spinning into the opposite carriageway, coming to a stop facing the same direction as Braintree-bound traffic, while the grey Vauxhall Astra carrying the family from Great Dunmow also span and finished in a hedgerow.
Mr Harrington's car burst into flames before by-passers, who had stopped to help, could attempt to pull him unconscious from the vehicle.
The parents in the Astra, both 30, and their 18-month-old daughter suffered serious injuries and were airlifted to hospital.
PC Katherine Burke, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit that investigated the crash, said there was nothing to suggest any defects were present in either car involved in the collision.
She said: "Despite having been extensively damaged by the fire, Mr Harrington's disc brakes hadn't locked; they looked as if they had been used properly.
"There was nothing wrong with the car which contributed to the accident. The same can be said for the Vauxhall Astra."
Speaking about road and weather conditions at about 3pm Sunday, April 13, she continued: "It was a nice, dry day and it was bright. The road was in a good state and traffic was light."
She added everyone involved in the collision was wearing a seatbelt. The fire officer investigating the incident said the fire, which started in the engine, was either caused by an electric spark from a damaged wire, or the ignition of flammable liquid.
There was no suggestion of any sabotage to the vehicle.
Toxicology reports revealed Mr Harrington had Tramadol and Diazepam, both central nervous system depressants which may affect driving ability, in his system.
But Mrs McGann said there was no alcohol in Mr Harrington's system, nor did he suffer a medical episode.
She said: "Mr Harrington's prescribed medication was legal; it simply warned that his driving may be affected, not that he mustn't drive at all.
"We can't tell what part medication played in the incident, if any at all. The driver of the Vauxhall Astra did everything she could and did not do anything wrong.
"It is also legal to drive a left-hand-drive car. There is nothing wrong with driving a car with the steering wheel on, what would be for us, the wrong side."
Recording a verdict of road traffic collision by extensive thermal and traumatic injuries, Mrs McGann said: "Unfortunate accidents happen, and Mr Harrington's was a very sad death."
Members of Mr Harrington's family, who were at the inquest, did not want to talk to the Chronicle after the hearing, but his son Marc has previously said the stretch of road, between Wheelers Hill and Braintree Road, "is poorly designed".
