A QUIET summer's evening with friends turned to tragedy for a promising young farm worker, an inquest heard last Thursday.

Robert Watson, of Curl View, Pembridge, drove to a Leominster supermarket to buy some beer and was returning home when disaster struck around 6pm on May 24, 2003.

County coroner, David Halpern, heard how friend, Philip Kuegler, who accompanied 23-year-old Mr Watson in his silver Ford Escort, shouted a warning that he was too close to the grass verge.

The pair had been returning to another friend's home in Pembridge, who was cooking the three of them a meal, when the collision occurred at Lawton Cross. Mr Watson took evasive action to avoid the verge, resulting in him over steering into the path of a white Renault travelling in the opposite direction.

"Robert's driving was fine. I can think of no reason at all as to why this accident has happened," said Mr Kuegler.

Colin Francis Millichope had been visiting Shobdon Airfield with his grandson and father-in-law, Bernard Yapp, when his Renault collided with the silver Escort.

Mr Yapp said: "We were travelling along the road. Next thing I remember was a car coming along the wrong side of the road. I remember Colin swerving and trying to avoid the other car. Colin did his best to avoid a collision."

Hereford pathologist, Dr Mark Hayes, said that, in spite of severe multiple injuries, Mr Watson clung to life for two weeks before he died on June 10 at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham.

"The cause of death was adult respiratory distress syndrome. The lungs were extremely congested and swollen," said Dr Hayes.He explained the condition develops as a natural reaction to extreme trauma in people who have suffered such serious injuries.

Accident investigator, PC Alan Paton, said: "Mr Watson appears to oversteered and veered across the road. At the time of the collision, the Escort was mostly on the incorrect side of the road. There was insufficient time for the Renault driver to react."

Mr Halpern recorded a verdict of accidental death.