Friends of a man who died following a car accident earlier this year have issued a moving tribute to him.
Liam Lyster, 23, from Bluden Close, Viables, was taken to hospital with severe head and chest injuries after his car hit a lamppost on June 25.
North Hampshire coroner Andrew Bradley recorded a verdict of accidental death at the inquest at Alton Magistrates Court on Thursday last week, but could not explain the cause of the accident.
Witness Mary Ellis told the hearing that Mr Lyster’s silver Fiat Punto was travelling on the A30 Ringway South towards the Black Dam roundabout when it suddenly veered sharply to the right at 70mph and struck the kerb which launched it into lamppost.
He died three hours later at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.
Hampshire police collisions investigator Tony Johnson said nothing was defective with the car and a cause of the crash could not be determined.
Mr Bradley said: “The facts of matter are very clear, that on June 25 Liam was travelling on the A30 and that all was well with the world – until the Fiat seems to do something extraordinary.
“He is a much-loved family member and friend. I have seen the tributes to him and it is a matter of great sadness.”
Liam, a sous chef at The Barley Mow in Winchfield, was a talented artist and in 2010 was tasked by Hampshire County Council to design and paint the underpass next to Viables Craft Centre on The Harrow Way.
Since his death, his family has collected £1,300 for St Michael’s Hospice and Naomi House children’s hospice in Sutton Scotney.
In a moving tribute to Liam, his friends said: “Liam was a teacher, student, artist, friend, brother, son and jack-of-all-trades and he managed to master quite a few.
“Liam created and has left us with countless memories. He always made time to follow his dreams and include us in them.
“It is a rare thing to find someone like Liam, someone you could share everything with, could count on for anything and could literally spend hours talking about everything and nothing.
“He was the epitome of what it means to be a good friend. I feel absolutely privileged to have known him and the time we spent together will always remain some of our most treasured memories.”
His artwork and designs are being printed on t-shirts and his friends plan to donate all the profits to county council arts projects.
