A DRIVER has spoken of the horrific moment a pedestrian was killed when he ran out in front of his car on the A127.

Dad-of-two Billy Burton, 36, was hit by a Mini Cooper as he crossed the London-bound dual carriageway.

Choking back tears, driver Jonathan Wicks yesterday relived the tragic accident during an inquest at Chelmsford Coroner’s Court.

Mr Burton had been drinking with friends at the Dick Turpin pub, off the A127, and a toxicology report indicated he had drunk the equivalent of six pints of lager.

Mr Wicks said it had been raining that day, and the spray from the road made visibility difficult. He said: “I remember the car in front of me was quite a long distance away and then the next thing I knew it had happened.

“I had absolutely no time to react, as he was about two to three metres in front of my car."

After hearing a verdict of accidental death, Alisa’s father John Cooper remembered Mr Burton as a fun-loving guy. He said: “He liked to have a joke and was really well liked.”

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