AN ELDERLY motorist died on a New Forest dual carriageway after he got confused over which lane he should be in and lost control of his car, an inquest heard.

Richard Steele-Perkins crashed his red Daihatsu as he was heading eastbound along the A31 Ringwood flyover after visiting his son Patrick at his new home in Verwood on February 15.

Unfamiliar with the roads, the 75-year-old had followed his son back to the A31, where his son left Mr Steele-Perkins to continue towards his home in Hazlemere, just before 6 o’clock in the evening.

But Southampton Coroner’s Court heard that as the four lane carriage way split into two, he found himself in the wrong lane.

Witnesses reported that the car, which was in lane two, suddenly steered across lanes three and four, smashing into the central reservation, and spun clockwise, coming to rest in lane two, facing the oncoming traffic.

His car was then hit head on by a black Vauxhall Vetra, being driven by Mark Guilbert, who was unable to avoid Mr Steele-Perkins’ car.

Despite efforts to revive him, Mr Steele-Perkins was pronounced dead at the scene.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, deputy coroner Gordon Denson said: “I think the only reasonable explanation is that he found himself in the wrong lane and that instead of carrying on, he tried to get onto the main carriageway.”