A TRAFFIC control engineer was killed on a busy Southampton road as he crossed on a red light, an inquest heard.

Grandfather Geoffrey Hall, 55, was hit and flung into the air by an Audi A3 on a pedestrian crossing in Thomas Lewis Way at its junction with St Denys Road.

Speaking through a Chinese interpreter the driver, university student Zhiguo Lu, said his traffic light was green and he only saw Mr Hall when he was in the middle of the junction.

Mr Lu told Southampton Coroner’s Court he had no distractions, although he was playing a CD.

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Witnesses said Mr Hall started to hurry after he had stepped out into the road. They said the collision happened when he was at least halfway across. One witness saw four youths cross the road on a red light just before Mr Hall.

The accident happened in daylight just before 5pm on October 18.

Pathologist Bryan Green said Mr Hall, of Bullar Road, Bitterne Park, Southampton, died from a heart attack following serious spinal injuries.

Toxicology tests found he had just over three times the drink drive limit of alcohol in his blood.

The court heard he had been earlier been at the Southampton City Transport Club although a friend said he was not drunk and had never been a big drinker.

Accident investigation officer Dave Whittingham said the traffic lights were working properly and there were no defects in the car, which was probably travelling at about 30mph.

He said Mr Hall and Mr Lu would have been able to see each other before the accident which was the tragic result of both Mr Hall and Mr Lu failing to “correctly respond to each other’s presence and movements”.

Coroner Keith Wiseman recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said that there was nothing to prevent someone not driving from a having a few drinks on a Saturday afternoon and it was not known whether it contributed to Mr Hall’s misjudgement.

Mr Hall, a father-of four with six grandchildren, aged two to eight, was described by his family as a devoted and caring man who put his family first.

Daughter Joanna, 25, added: “He was a great dad and a great grandad and looked after every one around him.

“My dad was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I would say to anyone, pay attention when crossing the road and don’t cross on a red light.

Don’t take that chance.”

Police decided to take no action against Mr Lu.