Mystery still surrounds an accident on the M26 in which a 30-year-old man was killed.

Benjamin Jones suffered severe injuries and died at the scene of the smash on the London-bound carriageway near Kemsing in January.

Emergency services worked to rescue Mr Jones who became trapped in his Volkswagen Caddy following the incident, but he was pronounced dead on scene.

An inquest into his death heard Mr Jones had failed to brake when traffic began to slow on the carriageway and swerved into a HGV lorry at the last minute.

Jeanette Roberson, who witnessed the crash, had seen Mr Jones driving a few times throughout her journey.

In a statement, which was read to the court at Gravesend Old Town Hall, she said his driving was not causing her any concern and he had not made any "erratic manoeuvres".

She said Mr Jones was driving his Caddy in the outside lane and she was travelling around two car lengths behind when she spotted brake lights ahead.

Mrs Roberson told the hearing there was a considerable amount of time to slow down but does not remember seeing the Caddy's brake lights.

Senior coroner, Roger Hatch, read details from Mrs Roberson's statement to the court.

He said the vehicle suddenly swerved from the lane and hit the right, back corner of a HGV lorry's trailer in front.

Mrs Roberson said she couldn't understand why it had happened because there was plenty of room to slow down and described it like a car "driving into a brick wall".

Roger Hatch heard the impact was such that the driver could not have survived.

PC Andrew Waghorn of Kent Police said the back of the trailer had penetrated the front of the Volkswagen Caddy.

"The lorry was not moving. There seems to be no explanation why Mr Jones did not slow down" - Coroner Roger Hatch

Mr Jones was trapped in the driver's seat with his seatbelt on. The driver airbag had also deployed.

PC Waghorn said no defects were found with the lorry or car and no tyre marks were found on the carriageway which would have suggested "pre-impact braking".

Investigations carried out after the crash found the lorry had been travelling at just over 50mph before stopping.

It was then shunted 2.2m forward by the force of the Volkswagen Caddy hitting it from behind.

Mrs Roberson said she believed Mr Jones had been travelling between 50 and 60mph the entire journey.

PC Waghorn said there were no environmental or mechanical reasons for the crash and subsequent toxicology tests showed Mr Jones was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

He also said the swerving movement did not suggest fatigue as it would have taken a conscious effort.

Phone records also showed Mr Jones, from Buckinghamshire, had not been using his mobile at the time.

Roger Hatch concluded the cause of death was a road traffic collision.

He said: "The lorry was not moving. There seems to be no explanation why Mr Jones did not slow down."