A furniture salesman drove into a tractor and died after he ominously told colleagues that ‘allegations from 40 years ago’ had resurfaced.

A cryptic note was found on the 62-year-old’s body saying ‘it was all lies, I wasn’t that person’, an inquest in writing reveals.

Phillip Roger Howarth was travelling westbound along the A14, a three lane carriageway, between junctions 37 and 36 in his Skoda car shortly before his death on October 13 last year, the inquest documents show.

A coroner wrote that ‘for an unknown reason’, Mr Howarth entered a layby, at speed, and collided with the rear of a white Volvo FH heavy tractor unit which was parked in the layby. He was extricated from the vehicle by the Fire and Rescue Service but he died at the scene.

PC Jules Ashton, a Forensic Collision Investigator, said there were no defects with either vehicle which may have contributed to the cause of this collision.

Elizabeth Gray, Area Coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, wrote: ‘The Volvo LGV was stationary within the confines of the layby. It should have been clearly visible to an approaching motorist.

‘The collision occurred when the Skoda driven by Mr Howarth has steered an incorrect path from the main carriageway into the layby. On entering the layby, it appears the Skoda has straightened then continued in that straight line prior to colliding with the rear of the Volvo.

‘There are no evidential marks to show that the Skoda braked before the collision. There was no evidence of interaction with any other vehicle.’

Phillip Roger Howarth was travelling westbound along the A14, a three lane carriageway, between junctions 37 and 36 in his Skoda car shortly before his death

A coroner wrote that ‘for an unknown reason’, Mr Howarth entered a layby, at speed, and collided with the rear of a white Volvo FH heavy tractor unit which was parked in the layby

A business card found in Mr Howarth’s possession had a hand written note stating ‘it was all lies, I wasn’t that person but there was no way out for me’, the inquest documents show.

The coroner explained that a work colleague of Mr Howarth described him as ‘generally jolly, always smiling and willing to help’.

They worked together for at least three days a week at Glasswells, an independent furniture store in Bury St Edmunds, where Mr Howarth was a sales consultant.

Ms Gray wrote: ‘The colleague said that over the last few weeks Mr Howarth appeared to have been quite reserved, not his normal self.

‘On October 12 she was working with Mr Howarth, he seemed agitated, pacing around. He approached the colleague, he seemed distressed.

‘Mr Howarth advised his colleague that an allegation had been made against him from 40 years ago. Mr Howarth went on to say to his colleague “there is always a way out” and he held his hands in the position of holding a steering wheel and turning his arms anti-clockwise. The colleague toldMr Howarth to stop being silly Mr Howarth laughed and walked away.’

Mr Howarth’s wife, scientific lab manager Sally Ward, had told the coroner she was ‘unaware of anything in his life which would cause him upset or worry’ and GP reports showed Mr Howarth did not have any significant physical health issues and no known mental health issues.

Mr Howarth worked at least three days a week at Glasswells, an independent furniture store in Bury St Edmunds, as sales consultant.

Despite the evidence in the case, Ms Gray concluded Mr Howarth – of Tiverton Way in Cambridge – had died of a ‘road traffic collision’, not suicide.

The coroner explained: ‘Mr Howarth has for an unknown reason steered an incorrect path from the main carriageway into the layby colliding with the rear of the Volvo. There is insufficient evidence to determine on the balance of probabilities that Mr Howarth’s actions were intentional.

‘Phillip Howarth had mentioned to a colleague the previous day a concern over allegations made against him and indicated by hand actions a car accident. A card found in his possession contained a handwritten note which may have indicated Phillip Howarth having concerns over matters in his life.’

Mr Howarth’s family issued a tribute to the ‘loving husband, dad and co-worker’ at the time of his death. They said: ‘He loved music, especially playing his guitar and listening to The Beatles. He loved being outside in nature and loved going to the Lake District.

‘He had a joyous laugh and sense of fun and was very fond of a “dad joke”, much to the annoyance of his sons.

‘He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, and he leaves a massive hole in all our hearts.’