Chef Died After Misjudging Turn - Inquest
A YOUNG chef from St Ives died after failing to see an oncoming vehicle and turning his car in front of it, an inquest heard. Michael Green, 21, died on the A1123 at Houghton as he attempted to turn into the village at about 10.25pm on April 13. Mr Green
A YOUNG chef from St Ives died after failing to see an oncoming vehicle and turning his car in front of it, an inquest heard.
Michael Green, 21, died on the A1123 at Houghton as he attempted to turn into the village at about 10.25pm on April 13.
Mr Green's family and friends gathered at Huntingdon Coroner's Court on Friday to hear evidence from the driver of the other vehicle and a police collision investigator.
The inquest heard how Mr Green, of All Saints Green, had finished his shift at Huntingdon's Old Bridge Hotel and was in a good mood.
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In a statement, Mr Green's work colleague Michael Keating said Mr Green had been excited about taking his partner's child to nursery school the next morning. He said: "He was a genuinely good person."
The court heard how Mr Green had attempted to turn his Renault Clio right into St Ives Road, but had collided with an oncoming Toyota Yaris, driven by Joanna Barnard, from St Ives.
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Miss Barnard attended the inquest and listened as her prepared statement was read out. She said she had no chance of avoiding the collision, and told the inquest: "I just went into the side of the car."
Miss Barnard, then 23, had been driving to work in Huntingdon and suffered extensive bruising, fractured bones and eye injuries in the crash.
Toxicology reports showed Mr Green had a small level of alcohol in his blood but would have been way under the drink-drive limit and alcohol was dismissed as a contributing factor to the death.
Collision investigator Pc David Holling told the hearing how both cars were extensively damaged in the accident. He added that visibility on the evening had been good and there were no defects with either vehicle prior to the collision.
He said: "The cause of the accident was Mr Green turning right into the path of the oncoming Yaris, which would have been in view."
Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner David Morris said: "For reasons we shall never know, Michael misjudged the distance and turned right.
