A CORONER has warned of the “devastating consequences” of driving while tired following the death of a man who had worked 119 hours in 11 consecutive days.

Gary Shrimpton got behind the wheel of his car after a night shift but died in a horror crash involving a skip lorry and a coach two thirds of the way though his 150-mile journey home.

The 55-year-old widower was driving from a painting-and-decorating job in Plymouth to his home in Windbury Road, Southampton when his car veered across the road into path of oncoming vehicles on the A31 at White Post, near Bere Regis.

A Bournemouth inquest heard his head was down as he headed towards the skip lorry and that he took no evasive action.

Inspector Matt Butler of the Alliance Road Policing Team told Dorset coroner Rachael Griffin: “My working hypothesis is that Mr Shrimpton fell asleep.”

The coroner was told that Mr Shrimpton was working for Rosemead Developments in Southampton when the tragedy occurred at 10.20am on Friday, October 13, last year.

Managing director Alex Rose confirmed that Mr Shrimpton had worked shifts of up to 14 hours, including two night shifts, in the days before his death. He said he had been offered a day off but chose to work.

The coroner concluded that no laws or guidelines had been broken but added: “It does concern me how many hours he had been working. I have concerns about people falling asleep while driving.

“I think it is important to warn others of the potential fatal consequences – sadly, tiredness can cause death.”

The coroner was told Mr Shrimpton died at the scene of the crash of brain injuries, due to skull fracture, due to blunt trauma.

The inquest heard his car clipped the rear of the skip lorry before rotating clockwise and colliding with the front of the coach.

Coach driver Gregory Beardsall said: “It came sideways at me – I had nowhere to go.”

And skip lorry driver Chistopher Hamner added: “The car just came straight across the road. He was stooped over. It was only when I stopped and got out that I saw the devastation behind me.”

Mr Shrimpton’s sister, Kathleen Lewis, described him as “happy-go-lucky” and added: “He was just a caring, loving person. He was a comedian.”

Mrs Griffin concluded that Mr Shrimpton died as the result of a road traffic collision.