THE widow of a Hampshire man has recalled the moment her husband suffered fatal injuries in a horrific car accident.

John and Anne Richardson were on the heading west on the A35 outside Lyndhurst when their car was suddenly hit from behind.

David Lamb had tried to overtake six cars in his Honda Civic but was forced to swerve to avoid a head-on collision with a Ford Galaxy.

The Civic hit the side of the Richardsons Honda Jazz causing it to “spin out of control into the path” of the oncoming Galaxy, driven by Catherine Windward at about 7pm on September 16 last year.

At Southampton Crown Court Anne recalled how John “screamed in pain” and then she thought she lost him “when silence fell”.

The 82-year old was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and was put into a coma at Southampton General Hospital.

Despite several times when it seemed that John would make a “miraculous recovery”, he died three months later.

John’s wife of 57 years, Anne also suffered back and rib injuries while Mrs Windward suffered neck injuries and burns from the airbag going off.

She was also taken to hospital but discharged the next day.

Moments after the crash, Lamb appeared next to her apologising and said “What have I done?”.

At Southampton Crown Court yesterday Lamb, from Latchmore Drive, Dibden, admitted causing the death of John and pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving.

He was jailed for three years and disqualified from driving for six years.

Holding back the tears, Anne, 77, said: “I feel I have been robbed of the last few years of my husband’s life. He still had much living to do.”

After a pause, Anne told the court: “It’s so sad that the action of a reckless driver has robbed us of so much.”

Their son David, a professor at the University of Southampton said: “Life has been nothing short of a nightmare.”

John’s daughter Elizabeth said: “We feel we have been robbed of a wonderful father, father-in-law and a much loved grandfather. The overwhelming feeling is of such a sad loss. I miss my dad not being here, his love and support and so many other things.”

While not under the influence of drink or drugs, the court heard that Lamb was “caning it” down the road in order to meet a friend.

It is not understood how fast he was driving but witnesses at the scene said he was “gunning it” down the road and he admitted driving around 70mph.

The court heard how Lamb had previous driving offences on his record, including for speeding.

Representing Lamb, Nigel Lickley QC, said: “He has always accepted his responsibility. He realises that impact that his actions had.”