THE father of a young woman killed in a car crash on the A46 Sedgeberrow bypass said the loss of his daughter was ‘absolutely devastating’ as a coroner recorded her death as an accident.

Hayley Nalepa, aged 23, was driving a Vauxhall Astra along the busy road on July 15 this year when she lost control of the car and collided with a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.

Hayley and her passenger, 45-year-old Chris Ball, both from Longlevens, near Gloucester, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Worcestershire coroner Geraint Williams held an inquest yesterday where he heard evidence from driver Matthew Sollis from Harvington.

He said: “I pulled out to overtake the car in front of me and I saw the Astra pull out abruptly to overtake coming the opposite direction. The cars went past each other four-abreast and I looked in the rear view mirror to see the car skating across the road sideways.”

Another witness, Nicholas Smith, who was travelling about 300 yards behind the Astra, said he saw the Astra pull out ‘abruptly’ then move back in again and the driver appear to lose control.

Peter Garrad, aged 43, from Fladbury, was driving in the Mercedes that Hayley’s car collided with. He spoke of seeing her car ‘gliding’ towards him but remembered nothing after, making him believe he blacked out.

Worcestershire coroner Geraint Williams said that neither car appeared to be travelling over the speed limit and Mr Sollis’ s overtaking manoeuvre had been carried out in the correct manner as he recorded the verdict of accidental death. He added: “Nothing I say can make your loss any easier.”

Hayley, affectionately known as ‘pineapple’ by some, shared a passion and talent for martial arts with father, Steven. Both were black belts in Tae Kwon Do and obtained their 3rd Dans together in May.

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Nalepa said: “It was something we had to do to underline what happened.

“Now my mind is at rest and I feel a lot more settled. It was very tragic; she had everything going for her and was a very good driver. It was absolutely devastating.”

Rugby fan Mr Ball’s family released a statement saying he would be greatly missed. “He was a loving stepfather. It is going to take a long time to come to terms with it. He was a big man with a big heart.”