THE driver of an open-top Porsche Boxster was using a winding road like a race track before losing control and hitting the back of a parked van ending up in trees, an inquest heard.

Witness Jamil Parapia described how he was put on edge when 38-year-old Samuel Edson's sports car came close behind his Ford Focus on the undulating Otley Road, near High Eldwick, Bingley.

He told today's hearing in Bradford that he could not believe how far the Porsche continued on the wrong side of the road after it overtook him.

"It was unnecessary and irresponsible," he said.

"I had a heart in mouth moment. The Porsche was under control but seemed to be driving like it was a race track."

Mr Edson's car wobbled out-of-control before side-swiping the back of a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van which was parked in a lay-by opposite Graincliffe Reservoir.

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It then span across the road, striking a large boulder which acted as a ramp, sending it airborne until it slammed upside down into trees across a stream.

The force of the initial impact with the van had thrown its driver Laimonas Kerulis out of his seat on to the dashboard, the inquest was told.

When Mr Kerulis got out to investigate all he saw was bits of debris on the road and dust rising into the air.

Mr Kerulis then saw the Ford Focus driver Mr Parapia who had stopped at the scene and was calling the emergency services.

Paramedics, including the Air Ambulance team, battled to save Mr Edson, an IT consultant, but he went into cardiac arrest and died at the scene from a traumatic head injury.

Collision investigator PC Mark Lingard ruled out any blame on the mechanics of car or on the conditions of the road and weather at the time of the crash shortly before 4pm on October 10 last year.

Mr Edson, of Bolling Road, Ilkley, also had no alcohol or drugs in his system.

PC Lingard said it was impossible to say what Mr Edson's exact speed would have been but said evidence suggested it was over the 50mph limit marked by road signs.

He said Mr Edson could have lost control by over-steering on a bend as the car topped a crest making it lighter than usual to manoeuvre.

Coroner's officer Sam Carriss read a statement from Mr Edson's family describing his happy childhood growing up as "sunny Sam" the son of a vicar, wanting to be a car designer, then becoming a hard-working hands-on dad of three young children, and a loving husband to his wife Sarah with plans to one day move to Italy where they had spent their last memorable family holiday.

On the day of the accident, Mr Edson had been heading home early to go off on a family weekend in Filey.

The inquest also heard Mr Edson, who had driven for 20 years without an accident, drove Otley Road to work every day and knew how dangerous it could be.

He never usually spent money on himself but, with his wife's reluctant agreement, had bought himself the Porsche.

Bradford Coroner Martin Fleming concluded Mr Edson died as a result of a road traffic collision.