A YOUNG Southampton woman died after she swerved off the road, probably to avoid a badger that was already dead, an inquest was told.

Justine Embin-Butler, 21, was killed and her boyfriend Ben Wagon, 23, left with brain damage as a result of the car leaving the A36 at Landford and colliding with several trees.

The couple, who were both from Southampton, had been visiting family in the city and were heading back home to Yeovil when the accident happened on October 23 last year.

An inquest at Salisbury Coroner’s Court heard there was no other explanation for the Audi leaving the road other than to avoid the animal in the carriageway.

A post-mortem examination found there was no alcohol in Justine’s blood and investigations found she had not been driving too quickly on the 60mph road.

Witness statements said the weather was clear and dry and there was nothing else on the road which could have caused the accident.

PC Stephen Cox told the inquest there was no evidence on the car that Justine had hit the badger.

He said: “It’s likely that she swerved round the badger. It’s a dark road, unlit, she has been surprised by the badger and we don’t like to run things over so a natural reaction is to brake hard and swerve around it.”

This swerving on a curve in the road caused Justine to lose control and the car left the carriageway. They hit several trees, which smashed the windscreen and crushed the roof.

Justine, who was a personal banker for Santander, was taken to Southampton General Hospital but died shortly afterwards.

Ben suffered extensive brain damage and was not expected to wake up but is now recovering.

The couple had known each other since they were both pupils at Ludlow Infant School and started dating as teenagers.

They moved to Yeovil in 2009 when Ben started training as an engineer for the Navy and they travelled back to Southampton to see family every other weekend.

Justine’s mother Nicola Embin said after the inquest: “I’m pleased that the inquest is over with and we know she wasn’t drinking or speeding, it was just a tragic accident. But that’s not going to bring her back. I feel devastated and I miss her so much.”