AN EAST Lancashire student died after the car he was driving pulled out onto a main road and collided with a truck, an inquest heard.

Leon Atkinson's Peugeot 106 was also hit by a Toyota Auris after he drove out onto the main A59 Longsight Road from Osbaldeston Lane.

A post mortem examination showed that the 24-year-old, of Paulhan Street, Burnley, died from multiple injuries following the collision, shortly after midday on Thursday, May 3.

The dead man was a sports science student at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston.

Toyota driver Denise Hocking, who was travelling towards Clitheroe, told the inquest she could recall little about the accident but said: "All I can remember is a big lump of shiny metal in front of me."

HGV driver Frank Jolly, driving in the opposite direction towards Preston, said: "As I approached the junction I was observing the cars coming towards me and a car pulled out from the right-hand side and ended up in the collision. I hit my brakes but I was into the collision as soon as I hit them. He just drove straight out."

An accident investigation showed that the car driven by Leon had two defective front tyres and that the brakes were badly maintained, although it was unclear whether he had tried to brake at the junction.

Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict of accidental death at the hearing on Wednesday.

He told Leon's parents: "Leon failed to stop at the junction and emerged on to the A59 and was struck by two other vehicles.

"As a father I can only begin to understand the pain and grief you must have gone through, it is every parent's worst nightmare. Nothing I can say will take any of that pain away. "