AN 85-YEAR-OLD father in the early stages of dementia was driving erratically before ploughing into a tree without braking, an inquest heard.

Jerzy Abramczuk, 85, of Wotton-under-Edge, died in Southmead Hospital on January 24 as a result of injuries suffered two months earlier in a crash on the B4066 at Selsley Common, near King’s Stanley.

Assistant coroner David Dooley said he could do no more to enlighten the family than record the death as the result of a road traffic collision at Gloucester Coroner’s Court on Thursday, August 6.

Mr Abramczuk was driving in his red Mazda MX-5 on the B4058 in the direction of Nympsfield at around 2pm on November 22 last year.

Multiple witnesses describe Mr Abramczuk driving very aggressively, overtaking two vehicles at speed, narrowly avoiding a head on crash with a Land Rover and clipping the second car he passed.

Instead of stopping, Mr Abramczuk continued quickly down the road leaving the other vehicles behind.

Shortly thereafter Mr Abramczuk was travelling on the B4066 where another motorist witnessed him veer into the grass verge and smash head on into a tree, causing the Mazda to spin around and knocking it back onto the road.

Hermione Bishop was one of the drivers overtaken by the 85-year-old shortly before the accident. She described the Mazda appearing behind her and flashing its lights repeatedly before manoeuvring out onto the other side of the road.

“The driver of the Mazda was erratic and I felt I was being harassed,” she said.

“It was dangerous and I’m not surprised he was involved in an accident. I’m glad no other people or vehicles were involved.”

Mrs Bishop also believed Mr Abramczuk had been wearing glasses while he overtook her, but the inquest heard he only used glasses for reading.

Collision investigator for Gloucestershire Police Darren Rosewell said that Mr Abramczuk was not travelling above the speed limit when he came off the road. He also said that Mr Abramczuc had not used his brakes or attempted to alter his steering in the moments prior to the crash.

Mr Abramczuk was taken to Southmead Hospital, suffering extreme trauma to his chest in the form of fractures which affected his respiratory system.

While in hospital he suffered with pneumonia and was also found to be in the early stages of dementia.

There were also found to be pre-existing issues affecting Mr Abramczuc’s heart, which contributed to the damage inflicted by the accident.

Despite possibilities that Mr Abramczuk’s accident was caused in part by his dementia, the inquest heard only that his death was a result of the combination of injuries suffered in the crash and pneumonia.

Attending the inquest was Mr Abramczuk’s son. He did not wish to make any further comment other than to thank those investigating his father’s death for their time and effort.

Mr Abramczuk was originally from Warsaw in Poland.