A young man lost his life when his car caught fire after a tragic series of smashes on an unlit road, an inquest heard.

Steven Kenyon, 20, of Huby Road, Sutton-on-the-Forest, was apparently trapped in his burning car after the accidents on York's outer ring road.

The spot was close to the Askham Lane junction on the A1237, and near the stretch where York teenager Lizzie Gilmour lost her life a month later.

The inquest heard that Mr Kenyon had been driving home from Leeds where he had visited his girlfriend, Michelle Fisher, and gone to Elland Road to watch a match with her father and brother.

She said that he had left their home "in a good mood and happy".

Meanwhile, on an unlit section of the A1237, two men who were driving a Hyundai pick-up truck back towards the A64 had run out of petrol, then returned to their vehicle to find the battery nearly flat.

Anthony Handley, of Knottingley, West Yorkshire, said they tried to warn other drivers, but a Sierra being driven by John I'Anson towards the A64 hit the front right-hand corner of the truck.

The Sierra then skidded into the path of Mr Kenyon's car which was coming the other way, and hit it head on.

Mr Handley again tried to warn other cars, but a Citron, driven by Emma Riley, travelling towards Acomb, hit the back of Mr Kenyon's car.

"While we were waiting for the emergency services to arrive, the middle car (Mr Kenyon's) caught fire. I tried to get the driver out. He had a seat belt on and we cut it with a knife and tried to pull him out but we couldn't. His legs must have been stuck."

Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Donald Coverdale said neither Mr I'Anson nor Miss Riley had enough time or warning to avoid the collisions.

Accident investigators found none of the drivers were breaking the speed limit.

Mr Coverdale said: "Mr Kenyon did nothing to contribute to this awful incident. Unfortunately he happened to be the driver on that day who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"I do believe everybody did their utmost in this tragic situation but were unable to remove Mr Kenyon from the car before the fire took hold.

"If anything at all good can come out of this situation it is the observation that maybe it's a reminder that it is useful for car users to carry fire extinguishers in their cars.

"But I know not whether that would have dealt with the fire that was taking hold of Mr Kenyon's car."