An elderly couple's car was sent flying into the air after it was hit almost head-on by a sports car travelling on the wrong side of the road, an inquest heard.
Alfred, 83, and Annie Clatworthy, 82, of Keynes Way, Dovercourt, died at the scene following the collision on the A120, near Wix, on September 4
The left-hand drive MG, which struck the couple's Fiesta car, was part of a convoy of five Dutch drivers making their way to catch the ferry at Harwich.
Two of the cars pulled out and overtook a moped but when Jan Stronks tried to carry out the same manoeuvre, he clipped a car coming in the opposite direction and then collided with the Fiesta.
Emma Beasley, of Grange Road, Dovercourt, who was driving two cars behind the Clatworthys, told the inquest at Weeley how she had a view ahead.
"As we approached the straight section, to my amazement, I saw a green convertible MG heading towards me," she said.
"The Peugeot 2 ahead swerved to try to avoid it but the MG collided with the Fiesta, which flew into the air and rolled over a few times."
Essex coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded a verdict that the couple died as the result of an accident.
The inquest heard that Mr Stronks had already appeared before magistrates in connection with the accident.
He was fined £1,000 after he admitted a charge of careless driving.
Accident investigation officer PC David Howard told how the MG was in the wrong lane of the road when the crash happened.
Published Thursday, February 6, 2003
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