A father fears he will never know the truth about the moments leading up to his son's death at Dovercourt seafront.
Shaun Lancaster died by the roadside after falling from a moving van in Marine Parade.
Witnesses yesterday told an inquest they saw the 33-year-old standing in the van's doorway like a parachutist about to jump from a plane.
Pathology tests showed Mr Lancaster, of Lime Avenue, Dovercourt, had been drinking heavily and had traces of drugs in his blood.
But his father said the incident, originally treated by police as suspicious, made no sense.
After hearing evidence, Robert Lancaster said: "I find this very hard to believe because my son was so safety conscious, although he was drunk. Until 14 years of age, he wouldn't sit in the front of the car, even if he was wearing a seatbelt."
Peter Nook was driving the red, old Post Office-style van on September 5 last year.
He told the inquest he had given Mr Lancaster a lift to get amphetamines, but as they travelled along Marine Parade, Mr Lancaster wanted to get out.
Ian Bolton had been driving behind the van, which he said was travelling normally, and saw Mr Lancaster "intentionally" step out of it. He said the Leyland Sherpa van kept moving throughout.
A post-mortem examination showed Mr Lancaster suffered head injuries from falling backward to the ground and that he had not been assaulted beforehand.
Essex coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded a verdict of accident.
A 50-year-old man is due to appear in court later this month in connection with the incident.
Published Friday April 9, 2004
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