A MOTORIST died at the scene after his car was in collision with a single decker bus, an inquest in Okehampton heard last Thursday. The accident occurred at Cookworthy, near Halwill Junction, at approximately 1.30pm on Thursday, January 13. Ian Fleming, 46, from Nadderwater, near Exeter, attempted to overtake a lorry as he approached a blind left-hand bend when he was in collision with a single decker bus travelling in the opposite direction. Police collision investigators estimated Mr Fleming was travelling at between 62mph to 66mph in his Vauxhall Cavalier, when he began breaking to avoid the imminent collision. A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Fleming sustained fractures to his right arm and leg and multiple fractures to his skull. In written evidence, driver David Appleby said he first noticed Mr Fleming?s car behind him some distance before the accident. He said he considered the driving of the Cavalier to be good and the manoeuvres well thought-out, until the driver tried to overtake the lorry. Bus driver Raymond Abbot, who had eight passengers on board, told the inquest, of the ?surreal moment? when he saw the other vehicle heading straight for his bus. He said he had tried to swerve to avoid the car, but was unable to prevent seeing the car colliding with the front of his bus. Another motorist helped the passengers out of the bus via the emergency exit. Mr Abbot stated in his written evidence: ?I would like to say I did everything I could to avoid the car, but there was absolutely nothing I could do.? Another motorist, LGV driver Richard Caddick, in a written statement said he had seen both vehicles before the accident and witnessed the bus was ?not travelling fast and was certainly not speeding.? Other motorists confirmed that driving conditions were good and there was a clear sky on the day of the accident. Coroner Dr Elizabeth Earland reported a verdict of accidental death.
