A MAN died after his car came off the motorway, plunged down an embankment and collided with a tree, an inquest was told.

Ben Smith, from Poole, died instantly from severe head injuries after the accident that happened on the eastbound carriageway of the M27, just before junction two at Ower.

The 20-year-old was on his way to work as assistant manager in a computer shop in Southampton's Bargate shopping centre when his Peugeot 205 came off the motorway on New Year's Eve last year.

PC David Hazlett of Totton Roads Policing Unit described how eyewitnesses saw Mr Smith's turquoise N-registration car swerve across the motorway from the outside lane onto the hard shoulder at around 9am.

In a written statement, eyewitness Benjamin Clarke described Mr Smith's car as "out of control" as it veered across the three lanes of the carriageway.

Another eyewitness, Joanna Merritt, said the car was travelling at around 80mph when it appeared to "take off" from the embankment and fly through the air.

Crash investigator PC David Whiting told the inquest that there was no definitive explanation as to what caused the accident.

However, he said the front tyres were over-inflated which could make the car unstable when turning corners.

The inquest was told that no other vehicles were involved and Mr Smith of Salterns Court, had been wearing a seatbelt.

Toxicology tests carried out after the accident found no traces of alcohol or drugs in his blood. Doctors said Mr Smith, who would have celebrated his 21st birthday this month, was not suffering from any medical conditions.

Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said: "We are all sorry that there is not something more in the way of information to give us a clue of what might have happened."

After the inquest Mr Smith's mother Tracey said: "Ben was a wonderful son any mother would have been proud of and losing him has been totally devastating.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people who stopped to offer help after the accident and also for all the donations received in his memory for the tsunami appeal."

Donations totalling more than £1,000 were made in Mr Smith's memory instead of flowers at his funeral service at Poole Crematorium.

First published: May 26