A DRIVER is thought to have had an epileptic fit seconds before smashing into a parked car causing his vehicle to flip over, an inquest concluded.

The hearing was told Alan Ashworth, who suffered from epilepsy and had a stroke several years ago, was driving his Land Rover in Bacup Road, Cloughfold, Rawtenstall, when it crashed into a parked Mercedes.

It was then hit by a HGV being driven by Billy Williams travelling in the other direction, the court was told. The impact ripped the roof off Mr Ashworth's vehicle.

The 54-year-old, of Holmes Cottages, Cowpe, was taken to Royal Preston Hospital but died from head injuries following the smash, which happened on September 23 last year, yesterday's hearing was told.

Mr Ashworth's friend Ernest Walmsley told the inquest at Burnley Magistrates Court how the pair waved when they drove past each other. He said: "Within five seconds of that there was a loud bang behind me. I looked in the mirror and all I could see was the Land Rover on its side.

"The bang was that loud I actually thought I had hit something.

"He was driving along steady away. There was nothing untoward at all." Accident investigator PC David Horsfield said driving conditions were good.

He told the court Mr Ashworth's Land Rover ran up the Mercedes following the impact and the only reason he could conclude for the accident was driver error.

Pathologist Dr Abdul Al-Dowd said 80 per cent of the artery supplying blood to Mr Ashworth's heart was blocked which could cause a sudden heart attack.

Recording a verdict of accidental death coroner Richard Taylor told Mr Ashworth's wife Angela said it would not be fully known what happened.