The cause of a crash which killed a popular teacher and football coach may never be known, an inquest has heard.

Father-of-two Stephen Adams lost control of his car on a country road while on the way to a training session last December.

The 34-year-old was driving on Seven Mile Lane, near Offham, just before 7am on December 13 when his car rounded a corner and swerved into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

PC Mark Chapelhow, from Kent Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit, told the inquest at Archbishop’s Palace there was nothing to suggest Mr Adams, from Dimmock Close, Paddock Wood, had been speeding or had been distracted.

He added that while conditions were dark and wet, they were not bad enough to have caused his silver Ford Fiesta to lose control and the car had no mechanical faults.

Toxicology reports showed neither driver involved had alcohol or drugs in his system.

The officer explained he had replicated the conditions and driven the bend at the 50mph limit and encountered no problems.

“The reason why he lost control I simply cannot determine” - PC Chapelhow

Mr Adams, who taught at The Hayesbrook School in Tonbridge and coached at Charlton Athletic Academy, was seen desperately trying to regain control of the vehicle by the oncoming driver who was going fishing and travelling at around 35mph.

Mr Adams’ car was hit passenger side on, his air bag failed to deploy and he died at the scene of multiple injuries.

With the exception of the other driver there were no witnesses to the accident.

Following his death, tributes were paid to a devoted family man, dedicated teacher and hugely popular coach, with Charlton Athletic’s 1st XI wearing black armbands in their league match against Bolton and its academy sides observing a minute’s silence.

Assistant coroner Kate Thomas recorded a verdict of road traffic collision.