A "LOVING" and "caring" father who was a keen archer died as a result of a road traffic collision, an inquest heard.

Thirty-three-year-old Anuj Roka Magar, from Wilmott Way in Winklebury, died after his silver Vauxhall Astra left the M3 near Junction 5 (Hook) on June 17, 2021, and collided with a motorway barrier.

He was travelling southbound at around 8.20pm when the single-vehicle collision occurred.

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His family paid tribute to him and said he was “loving” and “caring" and had "a big heart".

On Wednesday, an inquest into his death at Winchester Coroner’s Court heard that on the day of the incident Mr Magar went to play archery before returning home to his family. He had been drinking in the afternoon and had "1.6 times over the drink drive limit of alcohol in his body".

The inquest also heard from Constable Rob Giles, a forensic collision investigator from Hampshire Constabulary who said the road conditions were poor on the day of the crash

He said: “I travelled to the scene and throughout my journey there was heavy rain and spray in parts on that evening.

“It was a combination of outstanding water and speed and that would be the most likely cause of him losing control of the vehicle.

“Everybody is different to the amount they drink one of the first factors that starts to come into question is decision making and the with the loss of control it was more likely that the alcohol started to affect his decision-making ability.”

Eyewitnesses who were driving on the M3 at the time of the collision saw the Mr Magar's Vauxhall Astra “suddenly lose control” and hit the motorway barrier.

Nicola Bridle said: "There was heavy rain with poor road conditions making it hard to drive and a short while before the collision I adjusted my speed accordingly.

“My attention was drawn to the car and I cannot estimate what speed it was travelling but I did think to myself the driver was brave to travel at such a speed.”

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Jason Pegg, area coroner, concluded the Mr Magar died as a result of a road traffic collision.

He said: "It does seem to me that it is more likely that the alcohol would have affected his decision making and would have made him less cautious.

“I am going to record that Mr Magar died on June 17, 2021 on the M3 motorway near Hook, Hampshire. He collided with a motorway barrier having lost control of his car.

“His speed and intoxication of alcohol in combination with heavy rain contributed to the collision.

“In terms of my conclusion in this case road traffic collision is the appropriate conclusion.”

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