A MAN was struck by a car and killed as he tried to cross a busy dual carriageway at night.

Leonard Lowe, 30, was crossing the southbound carriageway of the A127 on his way home to the Hovefields Travellers’ Site when he was hit by a Seat Ibiza.

He died at the scene at about 10pm on February 16.

An inquest at Chelmsford Coroner’s Court on Tuesday heard he had entered the road via an unofficial cut-through.

He had moderate levels of alcohol in his blood at the time of the accident, which may have led him to misjudge the size of the gap in traffic needed for him to cross the road.

The inquest heard Mr Lowe, was also wearing “inconspicuous”

clothing.

PC David Howard said Mr Lowe could have been in the road for three to five seconds – fewer, if he had been running.

The 47-year-old driver of the Ibiza which hit Mr Lowe was taken to hospital suffering facial injuries and shock.

The inquest found there was nothing he could have done to avoid the collision.

Michael Knight, owner of Gemini Kennels, in Hovefields Avenue, Wickford, had known Mr Lowe, who was known as Lucky, for a number of years.

He said: “His family are very nice people. He was just a very pleasant young man. I would describe him as a gentle giant.

“It’s very sad, a very tragic loss.”

Assistant deputy coroner Eleanor McGann recorded