A father-of-one died of multiple injuries before his car was engulfed in flames in a crash on the motorway.

An inquest on Tuesday October 11 at Woking Coroners Court heard how John Witty, of Caterham Drive, Coulsdon, was driving along the M3 near Lightwater in Surrey at 8.20am on February 27 to visit his father.

Driving along the outside lane, the 60-year-old was cut-up by a red Mitsubishi sports car which sped off even as Mr Witty lost control of his yellow Citroen Xsara, spun across three lanes and crashed into trees, where the car burst into flames.

John Lane saw the crash in the rear view mirror of his BMW.

He said: “A red sports car was approaching from behind very fast. The yellow car was in the outside lane. I remember thinking the red car is not going to slow down.

“It slewed straight out into the outside lane and the yellow car was forced into the central reservation. The red car cut it up. The yellow car had nowhere to go.”

Mr Lane described how the red Mitsubishi sped off, while he pulled into the hard shoulder to try to help Mr Witty.

Ian Hammell, of Farnborough, the Mitsubishi driver who left the scene of the crash, was due to speak on Tuesday October 11 at the inquest but failed to show up.

Mr Hammell contacted police the day after the crash but said he indicated before overtaking. He was questioned by police but not charged.

Investigator Christopher Annetts told the court the impact with a tree tore the petrol tank from the body of the Citroen, causing it to ignite.

Crime scene investigators were forced to identify him through his possessions.

A post mortem recorded he died after sustaining multiple injuries.

Lindsay Witty, his wife of 31 years, said he was an experienced driver but prone to speeding.

She said: “He always said never go above 100 mph because you will lose control. I would imagine he was going at 90mph.”

Other eye witnesses gave evidence at the inquest to say they had seen a yellow Citroen speeding in the outside lane before the crash.

Anna Russell, who was driving with her six-year-old daughter, said: “I remember turning to her and saying 'don’t you ever drive like that when you’re older'.”

Coroner Dr Karin Englehart recorded a verdict of accidental death.

She said: “I must emphasise he knew nothing about the fire. Try to remember him from the good times you had with him.”