A father who died after a crash on the M20 lost control while overtaking, an inquest heard.

It was also revealed James Gosnell's Jaguar had a deflated tyre and he had been driving without a seatbelt.

The 32-year-old was on the motorway near junction 4 for Leybourne travelling towards the coast when the accident happened in March.

At an inquest into his death, held at the Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone, the coroner described his black X-Type as travelling 'at speed' as he was overtaking.

A report from forensic collision investigator PC David Kirk, found Mr Gosnell's car lost control, veered across the carriageway and crashed through a barrier. No other vehicles were involved.

The married warehouse manager, from Plumstead, London, was thrown from his vehicle. Tragically, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses told investigators they saw a puff of smoke coming from the vehicle just before it lost control and a lorry driver had recorded what is believed to be Mr Gosnell’s car travelling at speed along M20 about 12 miles before the accident.

The vehicle suffered extensive damage and the roof panel had been forced down into the passenger area. Both doors had been torn off their mountings and a tyre was deflated.

A postmortem exam at Medway Maritime Hospital indicated the presence of Ibuprofen, Paracetamol and Tramadol, a painkiller used to relieve moderate to severe pain.

The coroner said the presence of Tramadol could have reduced Mr Gosnell's driving ability but she was unable to say it was a contributing factor.

The court also heard how Mr Gosnell had lost the use of his left arm after being involved in a motorcycle accident.

Senior coroner Patricia Harding recorded Mr Gosnell died in a road traffic collision after sustaining multiple injuries.

She said: “I am satisfied that the Jaguar motorcar suffered a tyre deflation as it was completing an overtaking manoeuvre.

“Mr Gosnell’s reaction caused it to rotate into the carriageway.

"Mr Gosnell was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the incident which caused him to be thrown. I am satisfied if he had been wearing a seat belt his injuries would still have been fatal.”

A statement prepared by his wife Helena and his family paid tribute to a: 'wonderful friend and lovely husband.'

Mrs Gosnell's tribute added: "He was probably one of the most generous men I have ever met and will be greatly missed. He was a lovely brother and his parents lost their son on that terrible day.”

Mr Gosnell's father John, added: "I would like to say the loss of our son has been so dramatic to us. He was a man of integrity and would give time to help others at a drop of the hat. Hwe was a wonderful son, husband and brother and he always will be my mate."