THE cause of the death of a soldier who died after a military Landrover he was in crashed on the A14 was accidental, a coroner has ruled.

Lance Corporal Kevin Greenfield, known as Sam, of Rock Barracks, Woodbridge, was being driven on the A14 eastbound in Nacton at 8pm on March 4 this year.

L-Cpl Greenfield, 29, of 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault), was in the front passenger seat when the vehicle’s tyre suffered a blow out.

Pc Jeff Cribb collision investigator said: “The vehicle was travelling along the road and suffered a blow out causing the vehicle to go out of control and the driver was unable to get the vehicle under control. The vehicle hit the central barrier, the impact was significant but I do not consider it to have caused fatal injuries.

“The Land Rover came to rest broadside across lane two, it’s likely the lights went off because of a loss of connection. The area was unlit and as such a military-made camouflage would have been extremely difficult to see across the road.

“I think it’s highly likely that Sam was in the process of getting out of the car and was making his way down the nearside of the vehicle at the time a second vehicle was driving a long the road.”

He said a Volkswagen Passat, which was being driven at about 60mph, collided with the Land Rover obstructing the road.

“The impact caused the Land Rover to spin very rapidly and strike Sam on the carriageway, because of the significant impact it is likely that it caused the fatal injuries.”

The inquest heard how neither the drivers of the Volkswagen or Land Rover had drunk alcohol or been using mobile phones.

Pc Cribb said the Land Rover’s collision with the barrier had caused the car’s lights to disconnect from the battery.

He said the tyre had probably failed because the Land Rover had been used off-road.

Coroner Dr Peter Dean recorded a verdict of accidental death.

A family statement, which was read out during the inquest, said they wished to “sincerely thank” all the emergency services for their work.

Padre Hyde, chaplain at Rock Barracks said: “He was extremely popular, a good soldier who will be much missed by his friends and family.”

L-Cpl Greenfield, who served for 12 years as a Royal Engineer, leaves behind his wife Charlene and three children.

He joined the Army in 1999 and had served tours in Northern Ireland, Congo and Afghanistan.