A 37-year-old Grayswood man died from multiple injuries after being struck by a car on his way home, an inquest heard.

James Wayman, a father of two young children, was walking home at around after 1am on Saturday, February 7, 2015, when he was hit by a car driven by an off-duty taxi driver on the A286 towards Grayswood out of Haslemere.

He was pronounced dead at the scene despite attempts to save him.

Last week, Surrey Coroner’s Court heard Mr Wayman had been walking or standing a third of the way into the northbound carriageway as he made his way home to the village.

He was walking home after a night out at the Haslemere Comrades Club and The Swan pub.

During the inquest, evidence was given by taxi driver Richard Rand, who was in his silver Skoda Octavia on the 40mph road, going home to Chiddingfold after finishing his shift.

Mr Rand, in his 50s, was left shaken but did not suffer any injuries as a result of the collision.

He said the accident happened because of an “awful combination of circumstances”.

Mr Rand told the inquest he had been “flashed and slightly blinded” by a car coming towards him he had gone over a hill into a dark dip. He said: “My lights were still dipped at this point and then ahead of me I described it at the time, being something white.

“What I should have done at that moment was to slam my foot on the brake. I didn’t know that at that moment,” he said.

“He was about a third of the way from the kerb. He was about a third of the way out in the carriageway.”

Following the collision, Mr Rand got out of his car and ran over to where he thought Mr Wayman was. He then went back to get a torch and called 999.

“I had been asked was the windscreen clear,” Mr Rand said. “I wasn’t going anywhere until there was a clear windscreen. Was I tired? No, because I had had a 20-minute nap late afternoon. I was fine, it was a normal evening.

“I drove that car daily and so I was very, very familiar with it. It’s just this awful combination of circumstances.

“I treat that road with a lot of respect.

“It’s one of those things, ones where you are careful.”

Paramedic Neil Godden said he could see the windscreen of the car had been damaged and he noticed Mr Wayman had a “number of injuries to his legs”.

Paramedics spent about 20 minutes trying to save Mr Wayman’s life but were unable to revive him.

A post-mortem examination carried out by Dr Ashley Fegan Earl confirmed the cause of death was “multiple injuries” which were “incompatible with life”.

Pc Stuart Jones who told the court he believed Mr Wayman had been hit from behind and gone onto the windscreen and then over the top of the vehicle before hitting the ground.

He said: “The driver had been on a dark, undulating road with poor lighting.

“He has been flashed. He has failed to see the pedestrian standing and unfortunately hit him.

“I personally believe if they were to bring the light from back behind that right-hand turn from Highercombe Road, it would give a better standard of lighting and I also believe they need to cut the canopy of trees back. People do get lost in shadows down there unfortunately.”

Mr Wayman, who worked as a gardener, was married to Natalie, known as Nat, and his children went to Grayswood Infant School and St Bartholomew’s Primary School, in Haslemere.

During the inquest, a statement from Mr Wayman’s mother, Debbie Stollard, was read out in which she described him as “the core” of her existence.

She said he was a devoted husband and a loving father to his two sons.

The statement said: “James wasn’t just a son, he was my best friend and the core of my existence. James’ sudden death has devastated the family. Our lives will never be the same again.”

Coroner Jessica Russell-Mitra said: “That part of the road on which the accident occurred was dark, but there was a pavement for pedestrians so drivers would not expect pedestrians to be in the road and it’s unclear why Mr John Wayman was in the road at that time.

“It appears from the evidence I have heard, it was an ordinary night for Mr James Wayman and Mr Rand, which resulted in a tragic accident.

“I offer my sincere condolences to his family and his friends for their loss.”