Brian Bennett's Vauxhall Astra collided head-on with a Land Rover Freelander when he drifted across the road into its path on February 21 this year.

Moments before, the 77-year-old, from Lower Chase Road in Swanmore, had narrowly avoided hitting a Lexus after driver Stephen Harris managed to swerve out of the Astra's way.

Sophie Sparks, following behind the Lexus, was unable to react as the Astra came into her path on Winchester Road at Wickham at about 2.30pm.

Miss Sparks, from Ringwood, said: 'There was no option for me at all to avoid the collision. By the time I saw him, an impact was unavoidable.'

Both Miss Sparks and Mr Harris, from Colden Common, described in evidence how Mr Bennett made no attempt to prevent the accident.

And a police investigation failed to find any evidence of braking on the road outside McCarthy's Fruit and Veg store, where the accident happened.

Mr Bennett was a diabetic and had been diagnosed with Parkinsons in 2004. He was also involved in a traffic accident in May 2008.

As a result he had to take an extended driving test, but passed that and was described as a 'very competent driver.'

Giving evidence, pathologist Dr Adnan Al-Badri gave severe multiple injuries as the cause of death.

He added: 'There's no way he would have felt anything. He would have been completely unconscious after the impact.'

Dr Al-Badri said he could find no medical reason for Mr Bennett to crash.

But deputy coroner for central Hampshire Simon Burge recorded a verdict of accidental death and said he lost control because of an 'undiagnosed medical episode.'

He said: 'There's no suggestion he had deliberately or negligently brought about the situation which led to a loss of control.'