THE death of a community stalwart at a notorious blackspot was an accident, an inquest decided.

Ken Salmon, 90, died when his Peugeot 206 was hit by a lorry on the driver’s side as he pulled on to the westbound carriageway of the A120 from the Hare Green junction on September 23 last year.

He died at the scene from a laceration to his brain.

A report from the Essex Police forensic collision investigation unit said the lorry driver had applied emergency brakes and attempted to swerve to the right to try to avoid the crash.

Although the lorry driver was driving slightly above the speed limit – which was 60mph at the time – Essex coroner Eleanor McGann said he had done all he could to avoid the collision.

She said: “It appears Mr Salmon was either unaware of the presence of the lorry or its proximity.

“The collision was unavoidable and there is nothing more the lorry driver could have realistically done.”

Mr Salmon was born in the Rhonda Valley, Wales, and had worked all over the country as a customs officer before he retired and moved to Dovercourt.

He was a founding member of over-fiftiess club the Harwich Centre Guild, a member of the Probus Club of Harwich and Dovercourt and the Harwich Society.

Vice-chairman of the Harwich Centre Guild and secretary of the Probus club John Holland paid tribute to his friend.

He said: “Ken is still missed within the various clubs and societies to which he belonged, even after six months.

“I knew Ken through the Probus Club of Harwich and Dovercourt and the Harwich Centre Guild, where he took an active interest in both groups, and despite his age he was always lively, always smiling and willing to take on new tasks.

“I’m sure his friends and everyone else who knew him will be pleased to have the closure of the inquest, to remember him as we knew him.”

A ROAD safety campaigner said he hoped Mr Salmon’s death would be the last at the dangerous junction.

Since Mr Salmon was killed, a 50mph limit from Hare Green to Horsley Cross has been enforced with average speed cameras, which have been installed by the Highways Agency.

Long-term-plans will see a multi-million pound roundabout built at the site and a timetable for the work could be drawn up when councillors and campaigners meet with the Highways Agency in the coming months.

It is hoped designs will be showcased to the public in the coming weeks.

Fred Nicholls, a campaigner and Great Bromley district councillor, said: “The new speed limit is making a huge difference to the behaviour of drivers and has made the road a much safer place, but we still have this dangerous junction.

“The second step after the speed cameras is this new roundabout.

“I offer my condolences to the friends and family after this very tragic event and hopefully this will be the last accident.”