AN OFF-DUTY police officer who leapt into action when he came across a horrific road accident has been praised by a coroner.

PC Ian Arnold of Dorset Police was on annual leave and driving on the C12 road near Cerne Abbas, Dorchester, when he stopped to attend a fatal collision between two other cars.

The crash, on July 15 this year, involved Matthew Taylor, 20, of Broadwey, Weymouth, who died at the scene, and Peter Gibson, 56, of Sherborne, who suffered serious injuries.

West Dorset Coroner Michael Johnston commended PC Arnold at an inquest for ‘taking control of the situation’, along with several other passing Dorset Police staff and an off-duty nurse, until the emergency services arrived.

Mr Johnston said: “I’d like to thank and praise PC Arnold, who on a nice afternoon off on his annual holiday was suddenly confronted by a nasty crash.

“It does seem that half of Dorset Police employees were at the scene.

“I think PC Arnold really kept it together and I admire people who don’t lose it in the face of problems – well done.”

Former Wey Valley and Weymouth College pupil Matthew, who worked at Lidl supermarket in Weymouth, had been on his way home from visiting a friend when the crash occurred at around 7pm.

PC Cliff Beard, of the collision unit of Dorset Police, said it was estimated that Matthew had driven his red Hyundai Coupe at 73mph on the old Sherborne Road, which has a 60mph speed limit when he ‘lost control’ on a bend.

He described how efforts to regain control of the car had caused it to rotate ‘at 90 degrees’.

It travelled sideways on the opposite side of the road and collided with Mr Gibson’s silver Mercedes E320, the inquest was told. Mr Gibson, who had been travelling home from work in Winfrith, said: “I had no time to brake or do anything.

“The airbag exploded and my elbow went through the side window. It hurt a lot.

“There was absolutely nothing I could have done.”

He added: “The police, ambulance and hospital were brilliant, absolutely all of them. The fire crew cut me out.”

Motorcyclist Linda Ashmore, who had been driving ahead of Mr Gibson prior to the crash, said he had been travelling at around 58mph.

She said: “I saw the red car coming down the road and I thought ‘My God, that’s fast’.”

Mrs Ashmore said she and her husband were concerned when Mr Gibson’s car did not come around the corner and contacted the police.

Mr Johnston recorded a verdict that Matthew died as a result of an accident which caused head injuries and a fractured neck.

He said: “Matthew drove his car at excessive speed and lost control.

“It’s a terrible waste of a young life and I really am so sorry for his family.

“I hope Mr Gibson will soon be fully recovered from his injuries.”

Speaking after the inquest, Matthew’s sister Lucinda said the family were still ‘reeling’ from the shock and facing a difficult Christmas without him.

She added: “He was my ‘big little brother’ and we’ll always miss him.”