An animal lover who died in a crash in Wiltshire ‘was on his way to help an injured bird’.
Builder Jeff Brown was killed in a head-on road traffic collision on the A4 at East Kennett at around 12.10pm on 29 May last year.
The 65-year-old’s white Vauxhall Astra van veered into the opposite carriageway – hitting a red Land Rover, which was being driving by a doctor.
Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner’s Court heard he was driving towards Hungerford when he died, having left his home in Beckhampton.
“He had many hobbies and interests and he had a love of birds in particular,” said Jeff’s wife of 44 years Janina, in a statement read out at the inquest.
The statement continued: “He built an aviary in the garden to tend to injured birds.
“He hardly used his car as he always wanted it to be in immaculate condition, but that day, he said he was going to meet someone who had found an injured bird.”
Following the crash his family paid tribute to him.
They said: “He will be remembered as a kind and generous man who loved his family, cared deeply for all creatures, and was friendly to everyone he met.
“Jeff was a devoted husband to Janina, father to Matt, Lawrence and Rachel, grampy to Ted, Elsie, Zak and Freya and son to Shirley.
“We know you were proud of us all and we will all miss you dearly. You were taken from us too soon.”
Another driver on the road who witnessed the crash told the court that the collision occurred just after a steep hill followed by a bend in the road.
Coroner Ian Singleton said: “Jeffrey Brown was travelling alone heading east on the A4 towards Marlborough.
“When he approached a bend in the road at the top of the hill he has for reasons unclear entered the opposite lane.
He added: “Both the oncoming vehicle and Mr Brown took avoidance action to try and avoid collision but were unable.
“The crash led to the injuries which caused Jeffrey’s death at the scene.”
The court heard that neither driver was speeding or on their phone at the time of the crash, and investigators found no mechanical faults with the vehicles.
The driver that collided with Jeff was a doctor from Shrewsbury who had been travelling along the A4 with his wife. The doctor went to Jeff’s aid to check his pulse after the crash occurred.
Concluding the inquest, coroner Ian Singleton, ruled the death was due to a road traffic collision.
