A CORONER has pledged to investigate the response time of an ambulance called to help a Locks Heath man whose car crashed off a major road in the north of Hampshire.

Andrew Bradley wants to know why it took the paramedics 45 minutes to reach Geoffrey Clark, 55, on the A30 near Hook.

A first aider, who was one of the first motorists on the scene, told an inquest yesterday that she had rung three times for an ambulance.

Amanda Hirst told Basingstoke Coroner's Court that she was travelling from Wiltshire along the A30 towards Hartley Wintney when a white Vauxhall driven by Mr Clark slewed across from the opposite lane and spun into a ditch near Marwell Green.

Ms Hirst said she stopped her car opposite the crashed vehicle and called the emergency services.

As the only first aider present, Ms Hirst took control of the scene and checked Mr Clark's vital signs.

She told the inquest: "It is difficult to tell how injured a person is by just talking to them, so I didn't realise the accident would be fatal. However, I thought the ambulance took too long to get there."

She said she thought the ambulance crew took 45 minutes to get to the scene of the

accident, which was adjacent to the Coach House Garden Centre.

Mr Bradley said he was concerned about the reported ambulance response time. He told

Mr Clark's family he would be looking into the matter.

However, he added: "In this case the accident would have proved fatal for Mr Clark due to the head injuries he sustained."

The accident occurred at 3.30pm on Friday, November 1, 2002.

Mr Bradley heard that weather conditions were very bad and visibility was minimal although he could determine no reason why Mr Clark lost control of his vehicle.

"It may have been the weather conditions or the wetness of the road, but something caused Mr Clark to lose control of his vehicle," he said.

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.