A HAMPSHIRE man died in a “tragic accident” at a notorious accident blackspot, an inquest heard.

Alexander Ridge, 40, died after his silver Dodge Nitro collided with a DAF articulated lorry at Bullington Cross where the A303 and A34 connect.

The inquest heard the lorry was indicating left ahead of the A34 sliproad where Mr Ridge pulled out of into the path of the lorry, which was travelling at around 37mph.

But witnesses, including lorry drive Mathew Hill said Mr Ridge, of Farnborough, was not looking in the direction of the lorry when the car emerged from the junction.

Coroner Grahame Short recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said: “It may have been that Mr Ridge has seen the lorry was indicating and assumed it was going to turn left and that he had an opportunity to turn out in front. But I accept that Mr Hill saw the back of the driver’s head and that does confirm Mr Ridge did not look again to his right – which is what the Highway Code recommends.”

Mr Short added: “The lorry had right of way at that junction and the Dodge car pulled into its path.”

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Ridge’s widow Tammy said she was pleased to meet Mr Hill and did not blame him for the incident.

She said: “We did not want this to affect his livelihood as a lorry driver and we didn’t want him to feel like we blame him. It was not his fault.”

The incident last September closed the road for seven hours.