A WINDOW cleaner who had been drinking died after being struck by a heavy goods vehicle on the A34, an inquest heard.

Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter said James Geddes, 40, from Temple Street, East Oxford, was three times the drink-drive limit when he was hit on the southbound carriageway of the dual carriageway near Bletchingdon.

The inquest at Oxford Coroner's Court today heard Mr Geddes had been drinking with partner Louise Gubbins and some friends at their flat nearby before the incident shortly after 1am on February 20.

Mr Geddes was hit by an HGV driven by James Robertson, who was delivering special effects equipment.

Consultant pathologist Dr Sanjiv Manek said the cause of death was multiple injuries.

Mr Robertson told the inquest he was driving at about 50mph with his headlights on and dipped when he spotted Mr Geddes in the carriageway, which was not lit by street lights.

He said: "I saw from my offside corner a man standing in the middle of the road, by the white lines.

"He had his right arm and hand raised as though he was trying to stop me."

Mr Robertson added that Mr Geddes became visible "right at the last moment" and he heard the sound of a slap at the side of his cab before braking and calling 999 on his mobile phone.

Ms Gubbins said she and Mr Geddes had been due to stay with their friends and shortly after 12.30am he left the flat they were in, saying he wanted to go.

She added that she "sensed something was not right" and texted Mr Geddes asking him where he was, before her friends realised traffic had stopped on the A34 and went to investigate, discovering the accident.

Forensic collision investigator PC Daniel Henderson said Mr Geddes was struck by a number of other vehicles after he was hit by the HGV and added that no driver could have taken any meaningful evasive action.

Mr Salter said there was no evidence Mr Geddes was trying to take his own life and recorded a verdict that he died as a result of a road traffic collision