A LOVING dad described in a family tribute as ‘one of the most gentle giants you could meet’ was killed in a mystery car crash.

Dad-of-three Wayne Jackson, of Green Lane, Northwich, was driving a black Vauxhall Corsa on the A556 Chester Road in Plumley when he was involved in a collision with a silver Mercedes.

The 44-year-old died at the scene at 3.30pm on Thursday, March 4, last year, an inquest at Warrington Coroner's Court heard on Thursday.

Wife Jo, a nursery nurse, said she last saw him that morning.

“He got up for work and said he wouldn’t come back upstairs to disturb me,” she told the hearing.

“I said: ‘Love you’ and he said ‘love you’.”

Northwich Guardian: Wayne Jackson with wife Jo and children Lucas, three, Nicole, 10 and Ellie, 13Wayne Jackson with wife Jo and children Lucas, three, Nicole, 10 and Ellie, 13

The inquest was unable to explain how Mr Jackson, who worked as a driver at Manchester Airport, came to be travelling on the wrong side of a 60mph dual carriageway facing oncoming traffic.

Dashcam footage given to the police by a witness was scrutinised by forensic collision investigator PC Mike Tompson.

After a painstaking examination of the accident scene an hour after the incident, taking measurements and pictures, recording tyre marks and reading witness statements, he was able to create a reconstruction of the crash.

Mr Tompson said: “You can clearly see on the dashcam footage, the Corsa moving into lane two of the M6-bound lane. Why? I don’t know.

“It appears that the driver then steered back.”

As Mr Jackson tried to get back onto the Northwich bound carriageway, Steven Williams, whose silver Mercedes had been in the path of the Corsa, also attempted to avoid the collision.

Knutsford-bound Mr Williams, who was seriously injured in the crash, said: “I saw the Corsa in my lane coming towards me.

“Before I knew it, the distance between our two cars was changing so quickly.

“I did cross the centre of the road to avoid the collision. I had nowhere else to go.”

The two drivers steered into the Lostock Gralam lanes at the same time but did not have enough time to avoid collision, the inquest heard.

Pathologist Dr Matthew Cieka carried out a post mortem examination and said the cause of death was ‘unsurvivable’ multiple injuries.

Tests carried out by toxicologist Jefir Sharif found that Mr Jackson had not taken any medication, alcohol or drugs.

Both vehicles were examined and deemed to be roadworthy. Visibility and weather conditions were good.

Concluding that Mr Jackson’s death was the result of a road traffic collision coroner Mr Moore said: “I wish to offer my condolences to his family and friends, so sorry for your loss.”

In a family tribute, Jo said: “Wayne was one of the most gentle giants you could meet.

“He loved his family and friends and he was a loving husband and daddy.

“He was well known for his love of music, ranging from the heaviest metal to classical.

“He had a love for films and a wealth of knowledge of nature, space and science.

“He was an avid writer and loved to write stories, one of which we hope to publish as a memory to him.

“We, as a family are devastated that we have lost our whole world.

“We are heartbroken at being robbed of the most amazing man so soon.”