A TROUBLED young father died after driving into a fire engine on a New Forest road, an inquest heard.

Newlywed Darren Harvey, 25, collided head-on with an appliance last August during a struggle with his "demons", the hearing was told yesterday.

His 22-year-old widow, Becki, told of the harrowing moment he drove off from their home after threatening to kill himself, ignoring her screams and attempts to block the car.

Earlier that evening he told his partner: "Wouldn't it be nice to die doing something you love?" the inquest heard.

The coroner said it was "probable" Mr Harvey killed himself but was not sure enough to record a verdict of suicide.

Winchester Coroner's Court was told how the 25-year-old mechanic and car enthusiast, of Portsmouth Road, Woolston, had suffered from depression and anger management problems and had attempted to take his life in the past.

"He couldn't cope with the demons in his head," Ms Harvey said from the witness box.

"All he would say was he wasn't good enough for anyone, he was a bad dad, he was a bad fiancé, he was a bad mechanic, everyone would be better off if he wasn't here."

Ms Harvey told how her husband's previously "okay" mood changed on August 22 after she declined his offer to go to the cinema.

"He just kept saying 'just let me kill myself, I can't cope, I hate my head,'" she said.

The couple saw a speeding car on their way back from the shop, Ms Harvey said. Mr Harvey was said to have told her: "Wouldn't it be nice to die doing something you love?"

On returning to the house Mr Harvey phoned his father-in-law asking him to "look after" Ms Harvey before getting into his Ford Puma, the inquest heard.

"I tried to smash the window, but I couldn't," Ms Harvey said.

"I was just screaming at him to open the door and he just looked at me. I thought he was going to go and kill himself.

"I stood in front of the car and locked the gates – he just drove me out of the way and he just drove off."

The crash occurred at around 10.55pm on the A337 near Hollands Wood Campsite, between Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst.

Winchester firefighter Shaune Coote told how two appliances were returning from an incident near Lymington.

Footage from the first engine's dashboard camera was played to the inquest.

After colliding with the fire engine, Mr Harvey's Ford overturned.

He died instantly, the inquest heard.

Hampshire Constabulary collision investigator Michael Johnson said Mr Harvey was not wearing a seatbelt when he struck the fire engine at an estimated 60mph, with his car sustaining "colossal damage".

Recording a verdict of death due to road traffic collision, senior central Hampshire coroner Grahame Short said: "I cannot believe that he did not see the lights on the fire engine. I therefore believe it's probable that this was a deliberate act."

Mr Harvey reported several past suicide attempts and a history of childhood trauma to psychiatrists, according to a report read to the court from Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.

In a statement after the inquest, Ms Harvey said: “Darren was a loving, caring husband, and was a wonderful father to his two sons.

"He was the kind of person who would always be there for anyone in need.

"Darren died just seven weeks after our marriage – we had planned a long and happy life together, and I will honour him by keeping his memory alive and ensuring that his sons know what a fantastic person he was – I will always be there for his boys as they grow up.

"We also want to thank the fire officers, who without hesitation, thought of Darren first and foremost."