A FATAL crash on the A303 near Warminster in July was most likely caused by a driver dozing off at the wheel.

At an inquest in Salisbury on Wednesday, Wiltshire Coroner David Masters heard 60-year-old Colin Summers died after the car in which he was travelling collided with an oncoming car at Cricklade shortly before 6am on July 9.

Mr Summers, of Coombe Vale Road, Teignmouth, Devon, died from multiple injuries when the approaching car crossed the central white line and the two collided.

The driver of the other car, Steven Wildey, from Uffculme, Devon, told police when interviewed later he did not remember seeing an oncoming car and could not recall what happened.

He said: "All I have is a recollection of coming to in my car on the opposite side of the road and not knowing what happened."

He said he had felt fit when he set out to drive from Dorking to his home and did not believe he had been tired.

He agreed that he had had some three-and-a-half hours sleep the night before the journey and had had no breakfast that morning. He had woken about 3.30am and decided to set off.

"The most likely explanation is that Mr Wildey has dozed off at the wheel," said Police collision investigator Stephen Colwill.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, the coroner said: "That is likely to be the case but I cannot be sure beyond reasonable doubt."