A YOUNG woman may have suffered a “medical episode” moments before she was killed in a crash on a Hampshire road, an inquest heard.

Christine Hodges was travelling north along the A338 near Ibsley, when the car she was in crossed the road and collided with a lorry driving in the opposite direction.

The smash was so severe the 22-year-old would have died on impact, an inquest in to her death was told.

However moments later the Renault Clio’s engine caught fire and the car went up in flames, with Christine still inside.

Southampton Coroner’s Court heard how police said they were ultimately unable to say what exactly had caused the devastating collision on the morning of February 17 this year.

However, in the week before the smash, it was revealed Christine had passed out at her home in Upper Road, Poole due to low blood pressure.

Hampshire Police collision investigator Stanley Gibbs said it was a possibility that she may have suffered a similar medical episode moments before the collision.

Lorry driver Alan Wheeler broke down in tears as he stood to give an account of the run up to the tragedy.

He told the inquest how he spotted the car coming around the corner of an ‘S’ bend before it headed across the road towards him.

The first motorist to arrive on the scene, Ian Keating, tried in vain to open the doors of the Renault Clio before it caught alight, while Mr Wheeler contacted emergency services.

Coroner Keith Wiseman recorded a verdict of accidental death.