THE car crash which killed retired Accrington GP Dr Ian Gavin at a notorious junction on the A59 was caused by driver error, an inquest heard.

A police accident expert saidt the Sabden junction had been extensively "engineered" in recent years and he found no defects with the road surface, layout or signage.

"Omission or error on the part of Dr Gavin appears to have been the cause of this accident," PC Timothy Hogan told the inquest.

The inquest heard that Dr Gavin, 76, of Balmoral Road, Accrington, had driven over the Nick of Pendle heading towards Clitheroe on the afternoon of Tuesday March 1.

He was followed by Mrs Katherine Baron who described his driving as "cautious".

When he pulled up at the junction with the A59 Dr Gavin positioned his car to turn right and Mrs Baron, who was also going to Clitheroe, stopped behind him.

Mrs Baron described how his car immediately seemed to take off, eight feet in the air, then spun round. She said a small black car came to a halt to her left and a man tumbled from it.

Mrs Baron saw a nurse attending to Dr Gavin and his wife Elaine, 66, who was treated in hospital later for head injuries.

Other motorists following the black car driven by Mr Wen Feng, said none was travelling at excessive speed.

One said he saw two shapes hit each other and there was debris flying everywhere.

"It was like an explosion," said Stephen Henshaw who was travelling towards Preston from Harrogate.

Mr Feng told the inquest he saw the blue car waiting on his left: "All of a sudden it just pulled out, I had no opportunity to brake,: he told the inquest.

Coroner Michael Singleton said the A59 was notorious for serious accidents but this appeared to be the result of an error of judgement by one driver.

"For reasons that are not apparent Dr Gavin pulled out in front of the car driven by Mr Feng," said Mr Singleton.

"It seems likely that he either failed to observe the other car or, having observed and then looked to his left, mistakenly believed the other car had gone past.

"It is tragic that a momentary lapse of concentration can have such consequences," said Mr Singleton, who recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The medical cause of death was given as multiple chest and abdominal injuries