A CYCLIST who died after being hit by two cars on the A591 near Kendal was nearly three times over the drink-drive limit, an inquest heard.

Stephen Salt, 46, of Bare, Morecambe, suffered multiple head, chest and rib injuries after being knocked off his bike by one car into the path of a second.

He died at the scene.

The incident happened in thick fog and darkness close to Prizet Filling Station on February 12 last year.

Earlier, the postman drank at the Eagle and Child pub in Staveley before making his way home southbound along the dual carriageway.

Witnesses told how they saw Mr Salt riding in the middle of the road, close to the white lines, and how he swerved from one side of the carriageway to the other minutes before the collision.

Kerry Hazelgrave, of Bridlington, who was also in the pub, saw Mr Salt drinking before riding off, telling the inquest that, given the weather conditions, she could not believe he was riding a bike wearing just dark clothes.

Matthew Stidston, of Burneside, a back seat passenger in a vehicle, said he saw Mr Salt close to the central reservation and described the bike’s back light as ‘dim’.

Ian Slater, who was driving home to Lindale with his wife having joined the road at Kendal, said his wife spotted Mr Salt in the middle of the road before he went from the outside to the inside lane.

And mobile care worker Brian Carradice described how Mr Salt, who was a keen cyclist and runner, swerved in front of his vehicle as he made his way to an appointment in Natland.

Hayley Johnson, an off-duty Cumbria Police officer, was driving home to Lancaster after a shift in Kendal when her red Seat Ibiza struck Mr Salt at around 8.15pm.

She said: “I was in lane one and then there was a light in the centre of the road. My initial thoughts were it was a car with a light out or a motorbike.

“By the time I got closer I struck Mr Salt with my offside wing mirror and caused him to come off his bike.”

Seconds later, while lying in the road, he was run over by a green Skoda Fabia driven by Elaine Hill, a nurse from Dalton-in-Furness.

In her report, pathologist Alison Armer wrote: “Although it is not possible to be absolutely certain which impact caused which injuries, it’s my opinion that this man was alive when run over by the second vehicle.”

WPC Diane Bowman, of Cumbria Police’s Collision Investigation Unit, and South and East Cumbria Coroner Ian Smith both said there was little Ms Hill could have done to avoid hitting Mr Salt.

And PC Simon Eyres, who arrived on scene soon after, said: “Elaine did an outstanding job bearing in mind the unfortunate incident which happened to her. She acted very professionally and remained with Mr Salt.”

WPC Bowman told the inquest that Mr Salt was not wearing a helmet or any reflective clothing.

Mr Smith recorded a verdict of accidental death at the hearing, which was held at County Hall, Kendal.

He said: “Mr Salt was in no fit state to be riding a bike. The drink is a factor, I have no doubt whatsoever about that.”