Driver died after crashing into horse box which had broken down on A46

A Royal Mail postman who was not wearing a seatbelt in his own car crashed into a stationary horse box on the A46 and died, an inquest heard.

Ian Barry Neal, 43, died following a collision on the southbound carriageway in Bingham at 2.02pm of Saturday, June 13, last year.

The incident led to the road being closed in both directions between its junctions with the A606 Melton Road and the A52 Saxondale Island.

The inquest held at Nottingham Council House on Monday, March 15, heard the last person Mr Neal spoke to was his mum on his mobile phone handset minutes before he crashed into the horse box at around 70mph.

The inquest heard Mr Neal was not driving at excessive speeds and was believed to be driving at the speed limit at the time of the crash.

The inquest heard how Mr Neal had suffered with ‘severe depression’ and even had to take time off work in the past because “he was too tired to drive.”

He had also experienced suicidal thoughts and told his GP that he wanted to end his life.

However, coroner Gordon Clow ruled out that the incident was “a planned event.”

The inquest heard how the horse box had broken down due to a mechanical fault on the A46 with the driver calling 999 to tell police it was in “a dangerous postion” at 1.55pm.

There was no hard shoulder for the driver to use, the inquest heard.

The coroner said “the lack of a hard shoulder was a causable factor in this case.”

While some drivers noticed the broken down horse box and its hazard lights, Mr Clow said Mr Neal had not taken “evasive action” and crashed into it.

Sergeant Darren Mewis, forensic police investigator with Nottinghamshire Police, said the front of the Peugeot Mr Neal was driving had gone under the rear of the horsebox.

He said there was “no evidence of heavy braking” by Mr Neal. A full check on his car found no steering or braking defects.

Detective Sophie Law, who was investigating the case, said the driver of the horsebox had called 999 about its ‘dangerous position’ in the road as well as her car recovery company.

Detective Law said one witness, a driver, had seen the hazard ahead, slowed down and allowed enough room in his lane for Mr Neal to move across.

He told police that Mr Neal did not slow down and “drove straight” into the horsebox.

The pathologist found no evidence of alcohol or drugs in his system and that Mr Neal had died at the scene due to multiple injuries.

The coroner recorded a verdict of road traffic collision.