Kenneth Squire, 78, a member of Acle Indoor Bowls Club, was in his Smart car travelling westbound between the Harford and Thickthorn junctions when the accident happened.

The van was overtaking him when Mr Squire's car collided with its side, before veering off the carriageway and into small bushes and trees.

He was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital, where he died the following day.

An inquest into his death, held this month at Norfolk Coroner's Court, heard Mr Squire, a former lorry driver and care home boss, had been suffering from a cold at the time, but had felt well enough to play bowls.

The crash happened at around 8.55pm on March 6.  

Ken Squire died earlier this year (Image: Much Loved)

An ambulance, which had been travelling in the opposite direction, went to the scene and Mr Squire was helped out of his car by police and firefighters before being taken to hospital. 

The attending paramedic described Mr Squire, of Watton, as “very confused” and not knowing what had happened, where he had driven from or where he was going. 

Due to the severity of his head injury and having a critical bleed on the brain, he was transported to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, where he died the following day. 

A post mortem examination revealed that a cardiac event “could have occurred” in the moments before the crash.

Assistant coroner Christopher Leach said: “Although no acute heart attack was identified, there was extensive evidence of previous damage to Ken’s heart, which could have impeded heart rhythm at the time of the crash.

“In addition, the post mortem report noted that a fragment of a blood clot was noted to be in a right-side artery.  

“Given these findings, it could not be ruled out or fully excluded that a cardiac event happened prior to the resulting collision.”

Mr Squire had suffered from heart attacks previously; one in 1998 and another last year.

The medical cause of his death was given as a traumatic brain injury suffered during the crash, with ischemic heart disease given as a significant contributing factor.  

Mr Leach concluded that Mr Squire died from a road traffic accident. 

Ken Squire died earlier this year (Image: Much Loved)

FAMILY EXPRESS 'DEEPEST SORROW' 

In a statement to the court, his daughter Karen Syer described the father-of-three and grandfather as “sharp-minded and independent”. 

She said he had worked previously as a farmer, a long-distance lorry driver, and a bus driver in Norfolk. 

He had also bought and run the Lodge Care Home in Ashill, near Watton, working as a company director there until his retirement. 

In a notice published in this newspaper, his family described their "deepest sorrow" at his death.  

READ MORE: To read all obituaries and tributes join the Facebook group Norfolk's Loved & Lost.

Tributes and many photographs were also shared by loved ones via the website Much Loved. 

Julie Crane said: “Such a tragic unexpected end, to a very popular gentleman. You had the sendoff you certainly deserved. May you rest in peace, and never be forgotten.” 

Marty Cook, who praised Mr Squire’s good banter, added: “You also were very giving with your time. 

“You would help out and do anything that was asked of you. And you genuinely enjoyed helping, you were an absolute star.” 

His funeral was held at Breckland Crematorium in Scoulton on April 18 where donations for Dementia UK were collected.