A DRIVER died after he attempted to make an illegal overtake while on his way to work, an inquest heard.

Michael Tarrant, from Hove, was travelling along the A360 near Tilshead on October 16 when he tried to overtake two cars in front of him.

But as the 37-year-old father of two tried to return to his lane he “aggressively” steered.

This caused him to hit the roadside bank and spin into the opposite carriageway where he collided with an oncoming Mercedes.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

An inquest at Salisbury coroner’s court heard that the father-of-two was on his way to his new job as a tree surgeon in Melksham, Wiltshire, when he crashed.

Mercedes driver Gary Standen said Mr Tarrant seemed to be “out of control” as he attempted to move back into the northbound carriageway.

He said: “As it happened too quickly I can’t recall making any avoiding action. I don’t think I had time to brake.”

A post-mortem confirmed Mr Tarrant died of multiple traumatic injuries.

Moments before the fatal crash, witness Rob Webling said that he was forced to mount the bank to avoid a collision with Mr Tarrant’s car.

He said: “I thought how crazy the driver was to overtake there - it is a really bad spot. I was scared. I didn’t know if I could avoid the collision. Somehow we didn’t crash.”

Other witnesses reported seeing headlights coming from the opposite direction and deemed that Mr Tarrant might not have had a clear view to make the manoeuvre.

Collision investigator PC William Gibson said Mr Tarrant, of Woodland Avenue, tried to return to his lane in haste which caused him to lose control, resulting in the crash.

Within his report, PC Gibson also confirmed Mr Tarrant should not have tried to overtake at the point he did due to a solid white line on the road marking it was ‘prohibited.’

Senior coroner David Ridley concluded Mr Tarrant died as a result of a road traffic collision.

In tribute, Mr Tarrant’s partner Jelena Richter said he was “very loyal and an especially loving partner and father” who worked hard for his family.

She said: “He was a very loyal employee and an especially loving partner and father.

“Since becoming a father he has worked so hard so we could cope financially.”