A LEADING Somerset barrister was killed as he tried to overtake a line of traffic and his car flew into the path of an oncoming HGV lorry.

Robert Duval struck the kerb of a pedestrian refuge island on the A30 at Upottery, Devon, early one morning in February in awful weather conditions.

His BMW car became airborne and struck a metal lamppost on the island before his vehicle flew into the path of the lorry. He suffered multiple injuries and died at the scene.

Mr Duval, aged 60, lived in Hinton St George, near Ilminster, and was based at Albion Chambers in Bristol where he specialised in criminal law.

An inquest heard he suffered from Meniere’s disease, a rare disorder that affects the inner ear and causes vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss and nausea.

The coroner at Exeter’s County Hall was told Mr Duval suffered attacks in July, September and December - once when driving near a toll booth on the Severn Bridge and he was taken to hospital.

But Greater Devon coroner Philip Spinney said it was not possible to say if Meniere’s Disease ‘caused or contributed to this tragic event’.

Caroline Duval said her husband was an ‘extremely proficient driver’. He had told her three days before that his ‘head felt different in some way’.

He was driving to Truro Crown Court when the crash happened in dark, wet and windy conditions at 6.50am.

His chambers said he had an ‘outstanding reputation’ and dealt with the most serious criminal cases on the Western circuit.

Witnesses said he indicated to overtake in the awful weather conditions and struck the pedestrian refuge island in the middle of the 50mph single carriageway road.

Other drivers heard an ‘almighty bang’ and did not see any brake lights come on.

Lorry driver Robert White said he could ‘do nothing to prevent the impact’.

Father of three Mr Duval suffered skull and facial injuries and fractured all four limbs and ribs and died at the scene from multiple wounds.

He recorded a road traffic collision as his conclusion.

Mr Duval’s family paid tribute to him after his death. In a statement released through the police they said: “Robert Duval was a much-loved husband, father, brother and son, who burned so very brightly, and in so many ways touched the lives and hearts of those around him.

“We are very grateful for the time we were able to have with him, and are devastated this has been cruelly cut short.”