A motorist faces a criminal charge of careless driving after a jogger was knocked down and killed.

However, a coroner ruled the death of Roland Yates, 57, was an accident.

Father-of-two Mr Yates died of head injuries after the incident in Stock on May 27, an inquest heard.

The company managing director, a keen runner and cyclist, had left his home in Potash Road, Billericay, at 6.25am to go for a jog.

Coroner's officer PC Graham Crisp said as Mr Yates ran he was hit by a Ford Escort, driven by Kenneth Robinson.

Mr Robinson, 45, of Highfield Road, Billericay, declined giving evidence at the inquest on legal advice.

Mr Yates was taken to Basildon Hospital after the incident and put on a ventilator, but died the next day.

Michael Barber, of Witham, witnessed the collision as he drove along Stock Road to work in Laindon.

He said a Ford Escort overtook him and accelerated away from him.

It went over a hump-back bridge and headed towards a right-hand bend just past Small Gains Lane, where he could see a jogger.

Mr Barber said he saw he was doing 45mph in the 40mph zone.

As he looked up he saw a big cloud of smoke as the Escort braked.

He went round the bend to see the jogger lying in the road and the Escort stopped about 40 yards further on.

Accident investigator PC Paul Reeves said the car was doing at least 49mph when it slammed on its brakes and estimated the speed at the time of impact at 41mph.

The point of impact showed the jogger to be two metres into the road when the collision took place.

Coroner Dr Malcolm Weir said: "We do not have a witness who saw exactly what happened, but we have circumstantial evidence that the driver had started to brake before impact."

Verdict: Accidental death.

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