MYSTERY surrounds the reason why an elderly driver drifted into the path of oncoming traffic, an inquest was told.

Robert Griffith-Jones, 75, was driving south on the A337 Cadnam to Lyndhurst road when his Honda Jazz was involved in a collision with a Land Rover Discovery driven by Simon Relph.

But an investigation into the cause of the crash failed to establish the reason why he ended up on the wrong side of the road.

Mr Griffith-Jones, of Emsworth Road, Lymington, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination concluded he died of multiple injuries sustained in the high-speed crash, which was almost head-on.

The pathologist who conducted the examination found no evidence of a heart attack or any other medical condition that could have caused the accident.

Mr Relph said the other car crossed the centre white line and appeared to be accelerating towards him.

He added: "I instinctively braked and turned the wheel to the left. I was expecting a glancing blow but the Honda hit me almost head-on. There was nothing I could have done to avoid a collision."

The accident occurred about one mile north of Lyndhurst in June last year.

Area coroner Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp said: "He strayed into the opposite lane and did nothing to correct his route. There were no defects in either vehicle and there is no apparent reason why he did not take evasive action."

Mrs Rhodes-Kemp recorded a conclusion that he died as a result of a road traffic collision.

Mr Griffith-Jones was a former Cambridge student who was a member of the university's rowing team.
His daughter, Simone Griffith-Jones, told the hearing: "He was a kind person who was very involved in the parish and was very passionate about various charities, particularly those to do with children.
"We all miss him very much."